Gloria Ntazola: There’s nothing classy about living in Kilimani anymore
By Paulette Mboga, October 29, 2025Influencer Gloria Ntazola has caused a stir online after saying that living in Nairobi’s high-end estates like Kilimani, Kileleshwa, and Lavington is no longer a sign of class. She said the once-admired neighbourhoods have now turned into what she calls “urban ghettos.”
Gloria, on a rant on Instagram on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, said people should stop bragging about living in those areas, adding that the lifestyle there is far from what many imagine.
“So mtu sikuringie anaishi Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Lavington, etc. Tell them Gloria said u live in an urban ghetto,” she said.
She went on to compare the estates to dormitory-style apartments she has seen in the United States.
“Kilimani, Lavington, Kileleshwa, etc, it’s slowly becoming this. If u been to the US, you know those apartments they call them blocks or whatever, with very long corridors and doors facing each other like dormitories,” she explained.
Gloria criticised the high cost of living in those neighbourhoods, saying the rent does not match the comfort people expect.
“Imagine you pay over 80k to live in a block with a poor house plan, and the kitchen is open plan, you can’t even cook in peace,” she said.
“It’s the ghetto of the ghettoest”
She also raised security concerns, saying the streets are no longer safe.
“Don’t forget on those roads there’s bike guys chilling and waiting to snatch your phone when you’re doing your morning/evening walks,” she said, adding that many of the roads are full of potholes. “Even roads have terrible potholes right now; you can’t drive smoothly, it’s so bumpy.”
Gloria said that people should stop associating these estates with high status.
“Nobody should ever tell you living here is a certain class!! bluh bluh it’s not. Is the Ghetttooooo of the ghettoestttttt,” she wrote.
Her remarks come at a time when Kilimani, Kileleshwa, and Lavington have seen a sharp rise in the construction of high-rise apartments, leading to congestion, poor road networks, and reduced privacy for residents.
Once considered some of Nairobi’s most posh and quiet neighbourhoods, Kilimani and its environs have changed over the years. Many now believe the constant construction and tall buildings have stripped the areas of their former charm and exclusivity.