South B

South B is one of Nairobi’s well-known residential estates, with roots in early city planning during the colonial era. The name itself is quite literal—“South” refers to its location just below the Central Business District (CBD), while “B” was simply used to label and organize different zones, alongside nearby areas like South C. The estate began to take shape more prominently in the 1980s, as Nairobi expanded and demand for middle-class housing grew. Initially, South B was planned as a low-rise residential area during the colonial era to serve the industrial area, but as more professionals looked for homes close to the city center, the neighborhood quickly evolved. Over time, apartment blocks replaced many of the original houses to accommodate the rising demand. This transformation accelerated in the 2000s and 2010s, when developers built more modern complexes to provide affordable housing near town. Today, South B’s appeal largely comes from its strategic location—positioned between the CBD and Nairobi’s industrial area—making it a convenient and practical choice for people who work in and around the city.