Java House Opens Second Thika Branch as the Town Grows Into a Bustling Urban Hub
Thika is changing, and Java House wants to be part of that change.
The restaurant brand has opened its second branch in the town, this time at Shell Makongeni, bringing its familiar coffee, food and social space closer to residents as Thika moves towards becoming Kenya’s sixth city.
The new outlet is Java House’s 111th branch in East Africa and comes two years after the brand first opened in Thika.
For a town that has long been known for its industrial base, Thika is developing a different side too. New residential developments, schools, universities, businesses and services are bringing in a growing and increasingly youthful population.
And with that growth comes a changing lifestyle.
People are looking for places where they can grab a coffee before work, meet friends, have a meal, catch up on emails or simply spend a little time away from home.
That is the space Java House hopes to fill.
Growing with Thika
Speaking during the opening, Naima Hassan, Java House Africa Chief Operations Officer, said the new branch reflects the changes taking place across the town.
“We are witnessing a new phase of urban growth in Thika,” she said, pointing to the town’s expanding population and growing residential and commercial developments.
The company first arrived in Thika in 2024 and says the response from residents encouraged it to return with a second location.
“We first came into Thika in 2024, and the town received us with open arms. Now we are returning for our second branch in what will soon become a city,” Hassan said.
The new location at Shell Makongeni is positioned to serve residents and people passing through one of the town’s growing areas.
Java House Expands in Thika With New Branch
More Than Just a Coffee Stop
Thika has traditionally been associated with factories and manufacturing, but its economy has become increasingly diverse.
Education, banking, retail, hospitality and other services now form an important part of the town’s daily life.
Its location also gives it an advantage.
With connections to Nairobi through the Thika Superhighway, as well as railway and road links to the Central Highlands and northeastern Kenya, Thika has continued to attract people and businesses.
The town’s population was placed at 284,727 in figures presented to the Senate committee that considered its application for city status.
As more people settle, work and study in Thika, the way they spend their free time is changing too.
Restaurants, cafés and other lifestyle spaces are becoming part of the experience of living in a growing urban centre.
For Java House, that presents an opportunity to become part of everyday life in the town rather than simply another place to eat.
“Beyond buildings and infrastructure, urban growth is about how people experience and interact with their city,” Hassan said.
Java House Keeps Expanding
The Thika opening is part of Java House’s wider expansion across East Africa.
Founded in Kenya in 1999, the brand has grown from its original focus on gourmet coffee into a casual dining business with 111 outlets across 18 cities in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
It has also expanded its portfolio through brands including Planet Yoghurt, 360 Degrees Pizza and Kukito.
Beyond its restaurants, Java House says its foundation supports initiatives involving local farmers, artists and school feeding programmes, including its partnership with Food4Education.
For Thika residents, however, the newest branch is likely to be judged by something much simpler: whether it becomes one of those places people naturally find themselves returning to.
And as Thika gets closer to city status, Java House is hoping to grow alongside it.
