By Eddah Waithaka
Limuru Country Club unveiled the winning design for its new Clubhouse on Saturday, naming the architect whose vision will define one of Kenya’s oldest private members’ clubs for the next century.
The announcement, which took place before members, built environment professionals and invited guests at the Club’s XYZ Area, represents the most significant step in the Club’s recovery since a fire destroyed the entire Clubhouse in January 2025.
The fire, which consumed a building that had served as the social and administrative heart of Limuru Country Club since the post-independence era, prompted the Board of Directors to act swiftly.
Rather than simply rebuild what existed, the Club’s Development Oversight Committee resolved to open the process to competition, inviting Kenya’s best architectural minds to reimagine the Clubhouse from the ground up.
The competition, launched in January 2026, attracted expressions of interest from consortia comprising architects, engineers, landscape designers, quantity surveyors, environmental assessors and green building specialists.
Entries arrived by 27th February 2026, and an independent jury evaluated them between 4th and 6th March.
Jury Chairman Arch. Musau Kimeu, one of Kenya’s most distinguished architects, presented the jury’s findings and declared the winner on Saturday, with two runners-up and several honorary mentions also receiving recognition.
“What we saw from Kenya’s architectural community was genuinely impressive,” said Musau Kimeu.
“These were not safe designs, rather they were bold responses to a complex brief. The winning entry stood out because it resolved the tension between heritage and modernity in a way that felt inevitable rather than forced.”
The ceremony, dubbed ‘Limuru Rising’, was officiated by Limuru Country Club Chairman Caxton Kinuthia.
Guest of Honour Dr. Samuel Kiruthu, a former Chairman of Limuru Country Club, longtime resident of the Limuru/Tigoni area and one of Kenya’s most respected corporate leaders, attended as well.
Dr. Kiruthu’s presence carried particular symbolism: a figure who has witnessed the Club’s history, invited to officiate the moment it begins writing its next chapter.
“This is not just about a building, it is about what Limuru Country Club stands for in the next century,” said Caxton Kinuthia.
“We challenged Kenya’s best architects to reimagine our home, and what they delivered has exceeded every expectation. Today we reveal not just a winner, but a vision.”
The winning design will now proceed through design development, regulatory approvals and procurement of works processes before construction timelines become finalised.
The design aims to be modern, environmentally sustainable and respectful of the Club’s century-long heritage, a building that members and the wider Limuru community can identify with for generations.
All competition entries will remain on public display at the XYZ Exhibition Area within the Club until Sunday, 15th March 2026, giving members and visitors the opportunity to see the full breadth of architectural thinking that went into reimagining the Club’s future.
The New Clubhouse Project forms part of a larger vision for Limuru Country Club’s future. The Club has recently issued a Request for Proposals, inviting consultants to develop a Spatial Development Master Plan spanning 2026 to 2050.
This 25-year blueprint will chart the course for how the Club’s entire grounds grow, evolve and transform, covering everything from facility upgrades and operational improvements to broader estate development. Together, these initiatives mark the beginning of a bold new chapter for Limuru Country Club.
