The last few years have seen the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) experiencing a gradual transformation. A quick research on the streets had a number of people giving descriptions of the city as such:-

  • It is a bus station congested with public transit vehicles (towards the east), a queuing zone for authorized buses (around the centre) and a large matatu park (towards the west).
  • Retail stores have reduced in size over the years with many being converted into exhibition stalls measuring less than 10 square metres.
  • Buildings that once hosted leading corporates and embassies are now offering shared space while others have turned into bars and fast foods with life-spans averaging less than 4 years.
  • The remaining part of the Central built environment has been taken over by universities attempting to meet the massive demand for higher education

The statements hold a big truth except for one thing that has not changed. Have you noticed that the Central and Municipal Government Offices that occupy a substantial section of the CBD remain untouched in this new experience? This has been largely a result of the change in zoning regulations thus enabling areas within the first concentric zone outside the Central Business District to incorporate mixed land use, high commercial and residential buildings. This has led to massive changes in the urban print of the city.

Leading corporates such as Optiven Group, https://www.optiven.co.ke/newsblogs/optiven-opens-new-offices-expanding-network-to-counties-and-diaspora/ have slowly moved out of the CBD to locate in the first concentric zone. Over a decade ago, all major finance companies, banks, foreign embassies and professional firms took pride in being located in the CBD.

The one time residential areas of Upper Hill, Kilimani and Westlands have gradually transformed into high end business enclaves among upmarket residential properties. Upper Hill, which hosted residential government bungalows for close to a century, is now the site of 25 storey and above sky scrapers .

Noteworthy growth in the hospitality industry has not been left out as leading hotels establishing themselves in Nairobi are now developing within the same zone and not the CBD which was the case in the past. The move by Optiven is not any different but key to the corporate strategy and expedient corporate growth for the company that has been in business for 26 years. With it’s rented premises located in the downtown area of Duruma Road in the Central Business District, before moving to Absa years later, Optiven has come a long way.

The milestone to acquire it’s own premises in the Karen area was largely a part of the vision bearer Dr. George Wachiuri. Speaking about the 1999 beginning of Optiven on TV47 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=306580965120498, Dr. Wachiuri brings a demure yet realistic kaleidoscope of the initial journey and how it shaped his dreams to be what it is today. More often than not, he is quoted for his passion to transform lives by bringing on board as many people as possible whether as a mentor, employer, motivator or a business person.

The numbers of staff at the organization that has become a giant in real estate is a key indicator of why there was need to have a bigger space. But that is not all. The Optiven Karen office is dotted with the irreputable green tone that is famous with Optiven. The walls and furniture fuse these color combo as it hosts men and women eager to tap into the Optiven vision while transforming their own lives as individuals.

Located at the Zamani Business Park, the new offices are in proximity to many amenities and is easily accessible from the Karen Center that twins this locality. The space is enviable as it would cost quite a sum in the Central Business District but in this space, you will find ambient gardens, bespoke architecture, a subtle hue of earth colors and the parking lot of dreams. This is the new home of the Optiven Group where operations and administrative activities will officially be centralized and offered from the 29th September 2025.

Invest with Optiven

Call us: 0790 300300 / 0723 400500
Email: info@optiven.co.ke

 

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