Pipeline is a slum-like neighbourhood in Embakasi in the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger Eastlands area of Nairobi, it is approximately 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) east of the central business district. It has earned a reputation for its poor infrastructure, coupled with overcrowded flats, narrow streets, littering, as well as its poor drainage system.

Pipeline
Pipeline is located in Kenya
Pipeline
Pipeline
Location of Pipeline in Kenya
Coordinates: 01°19′10″S 36°53′46″E / 1.31944°S 36.89611°E / -1.31944; 36.89611
CountryKenya
CountyNairobi City
Sub-countyEmbakasi

Location

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Pipeline is located approximately 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) southeast of Nairobi's central business district, west of the Outer Ring Road within the Eastlands area in Embakasi. It borders another slum, Mukuru kwa Njenga, other low-income to low middle-income such as Fedha and Kware, and the middle class suburb of Imara Daima. Electorally, Pipeline is placed under Embakasi South Constituency; the whole constituency is within the Embakasi Sub-county.

Overview

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A section of Pipeline Estate

Pipeline Estate has over the years become synonymous with a concrete slum for its poor infrastructure and uncontrolled tenements.[1] Overcrowded high-rises set up side by side define the estate's skyline, narrow streets, poor drainage systems and poor garbage collection.[2] The estate attracts low-income earners because of its affordability.[3] The neighbourhood has seldom set aside open spaces that can be used for recreation, expansion of roads and development of social amenities.[4] As space in Pipeline ran out, uncontrolled development spread out to the neighbouring poorer Kware Estate.[5] The neighbourhood population is alarmingly high, accommodating approximately 100,000 residents without a single public primary school.[6][7]

As of 2019, Pipeline together with Kware have a population of 166,517, with 87,056 of them being male and 79,439 being female. The neighbourhood has a population density of 106,445/km2 in a land area of 1.6km2, the highest after Huruma and Madiwa.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Thronjo, Paul. "Nairobi's darkest estate: Where tenants use torches during the day". The Standard. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  2. ^ Odongo, David. "Why Nairobi's Pipeline estate is an accident waiting to happen". Standard Entertainment. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  3. ^ Jalango, Irvin. "Pipeline estate is a facade of what Nairobi will be". Standard Entertainment. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Nairobi Pipeline estate: Where children are forced to play on rooftops". Citizen Digital. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  5. ^ "How Pipeline estate became the laughing stock of Nairobi". Nation. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Alarm over high population in Pipeline Estate". Nairobi News. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Concern as Nairobi's populous estate has no public primary school". Citizen Digital. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  8. ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume II: Distribution of Population by Administrative Units". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. p. 247. Retrieved 28 March 2020.