Women Developers Launch Multi-Billion Corporate Apartments

Serenita Apartments yesterday broke the ground, marking the start of construction of 84 3-bedroom apartments targeting business travellers and consultants who stay in Nairobi for weeks at a time.

 An estimated 2.7 million people visited Kenya in 2012 for business, according to the economic survey, a figure expected to increase significantly as Nairobi continues its rise as Sub Saharan Africa’s preferred commercial hub attracting multinational corporations. 

Ann Kagotho(Director, Serenita Apartments), Njeri Kariuki, Ann Kariuki(Director,Serenita Apartments), Sakina Hassanali( Research and Marketing Manager,Hass Consult)

“Serenita has been developed to be a home-away-from-home for frequent travelers who stay in Nairobi for weeks at a time and get fed up of staying at a hotel,” said Alice Kariuki, Director Serenita Apartments.

The Sh19.75M apartments, located on Ngong road opposite China Centre, span a luxuriant 2,000 square feet each, with an open layout as a lounge cum dining area with easy access to a terrace and a separate modern kitchen with breakfast area that ties together the living spaces.

“The bedrooms are all en-suite and we also have the common living room area where individuals can chat after a long day,” said Anne Kagotho, Director Serenita Apartments.

Serenita designs are pegged on research indicating that long hotel stays exceeding 3 days have been listed among the stressers for business travellers by the Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) Stress Index. Further reporting found higher stress levels among solo travellers than those journeying with companions.

Alice Kariuki breaking the ground.

“Business travel is not easy, while hotels provide accommodation sometimes what one needs is to be able to be able to brew a cup of coffee or scramble their own eggs in the morning or simply sit down with colleagues after along day at work, that’s what Serenita offers” the directors added.

Their sentiments are supported by research indicating that up to 42 percent of regular business travellers prefer to stay at  vacation rentals rather than hotels while travelling, of which 10 per cent regularly book apartments when they travel, according to 2010 reports.

Serenita Apartments are located on Ngong Road two minutes drive from Upper Hill, Nairobi’s business district, and less than a minute from Nairobi Hospital, and are surrounded by numerous restaurants, malls and entertainment spots in the Hurlingham, Ngong Road area. The apartments are also to the royal Nairobi golf club as well as Junction. “Serenita is an addition to the self-sustaining suburb, which evidentially needs a mix of such facilities in order to make it truly comprehensive,”said Sakina Hassanali,Research and Marketing Manager, HassConsult.

The development comprises a total 160,000 sq.ft. of luxury apartments on a 1.3 acre plot primely located on Ngong Road. The project is currently under construction and scheduled to complete in January 2015.  The apartments cater to the needs of their business clientèle with Wi-Fi connectivity, a jogging track, swimming pool, intercom communication, satellite dish & MATV aerials as well as a state of the art gym and security system.