Before Upper Hill emerged as Nairobi’s premier financial district with modern skyscrapers, the Rahimtulla Trust Building was among the first major high-rise developments to redefine the skyline.
The tower was completed in 1999 as a commercial office tower and remains one of the landmark developments that marked the beginning of Upper Hill’s rise as an alternative to Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Today, the building continues to host corporate offices in the capital.
A Landmark of Upper Hill’s Early Transformation
The development of Rahimtulla Tower came at a time when low-density residential properties and a limited number of commercial establishments characterized Upper Hill. Investors and developers began to recognize the area’s strategic location and its potential to meet Nairobi’s growing demand for modern office space.
Rahimtulla Trust, a charitable organization, developed the project, and Planning Systems Services, one of Kenya’s leading architectural firms, designed it.
Laxmanbhai Construction Co. Ltd. undertook construction, while Howard Humphreys (East Africa) Ltd. served as engineers and D.G. Jones & Partners Ltd. acted as quantity surveyors.
Also Read: Story Behind Nation Center’s 17-Storey Landmark and the New Structure Beside It
Construction work, including plumbing, drainage, and firefighting systems, was carried out between January 1997 and September 1999.
By the time the tower was completed, it had become one of Upper Hill’s most prominent buildings and among the early developments that attracted companies away from the congested Central Business District.
The tower stands 97 meters tall, with 22 storeys above ground. It was one of Nairobi’s tallest commercial office buildings at the time of its completion.
Among its most recognizable features is its blue-tinted glass façade combined with white louvre elements, creating a distinctive blue-and-white appearance that sets it apart from many surrounding structures.
The tower also incorporates two basement levels and is topped by a communication mast used for radio and television transmission services.
Also Read: Teleposta Towers: The Kenyan Skyscraper That Beat KICC to Become Country’s Tallest Landmark
Ownership and Corporate Tenants of Rahimtulla Trust Building
Ismail Rahimtulla Trustees Registered and Sony Holdings Limited are the registered proprietors of L.R. No. 209/11458, the property associated with the tower. Althaus Management & Consultancy Ltd manages the building and maintains its lease records.
Over the years, the tower has hosted a range of corporate, professional and institutional tenants. Current occupants include the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA), which operates from the 13th floor, Axis Real Estate Ltd, and telecommunications and internet services provider iWay Africa, which occupies offices on the 15th floor.
The tower has also accommodated PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which maintained offices in the building before relocating to the purpose-built PwC Tower in February 2013.
Construction and engineering firm Spencon Kenya Ltd also previously maintained its headquarters in the building with 6,000-square-foot on the 17th floor before moving operations to Muguga, Kiambu County, in 2015. Technology company Dhanush InfoTech was another former occupant.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
