Kahawa is a suburb and civic ward of Nairobi, Kenya.[1] The ward is part of Kasarani Constituency. Kahawa is located in the northeastern outskirts of Nairobi, along Thika Road [2].
It was the site of a British Army base before Kenya's independence[3] and now hosts the Kahawa Barracks of Kenyan Army [4]. The Kenyatta University is also located in Kahawa [5]. Kahawa was also home to Nakumatt Thika Road outlet, but it was demolished in 2008 to pave way for road construction [6].
The word kahawa has an Arabic etymology, and means coffee in Swahili.[7]
Kahawa lies to the north of Githurai, a Nairobi suburb and settlement along the Kenya-Uganda Railway. Geographically Kahawa extends beyond Nairobi borders to Ruiru, containing the estates of Kahawa Sukari (literally coffee with sugar), Kahawa Wendani and Mwihoko.