Kahawa is a mixed-use settlement spanning the Kiambu and Nairobi county borders along Thika Road. It is electorally divided into four wards across the two counties: Kahawa and Kahawa West wards in Nairobi county and Kahawa Wendani and Kahawa Sukari wards in Kiambu county. Despite its proximity to the city, half of it is administratively in Ruiru, while some parts, such as Kenyatta University, Kahawa Barracks, Kiwanja and Githurai 44, are administratively in Kasarani.
Originally a coffee growing region, the Kahawa region is generally subdivided into four electoral wards as follows:
| Ward | Comprises | Constituency | Sub-county | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahawa | Kongo Soweto, Kamuthi, and parts of Githurai 44, Jacaranda Apartments, Maziwa Settlement | Roysambu | Kasarani | Nairobi |
| Kahawa Sukari | Peponi School, Brookside Dairy Limited, Kahawa Sukari Location, parts of Northlands | Ruiru | Ruiru[1] | Kiambu |
| Kahawa Wendani | Home to Maguna's Wendani (formerly Nakumatt), and the entire Kahawa Wendani Sub-Location | Ruiru | Ruiru[1] | Kiambu |
| Kahawa West | Kahawa West Market, Kenyatta University, Kenyatta University Hospital (KUTRRH), KM, Kiwanja, Kamae Settlement, & Kamiti Prison | Roysambu | Kasarani | Nairobi |
The Kahawa Barracks area (which partly forms the border with Nairobi County) was the site of a British Army base before Kenya's independence[2] and now hosts the Kahawa Army Base of Kenyan Army.[3]
Kahawa lies to the north of Githurai, another inter-county suburb and settlement along the Kenya-Uganda Railway. In 2016, this town started to be served by suburban trains of the Nairobi rail service.
1°11′S 36°56′E / 1.19°S 36.93°E / -1.19; 36.93
