The entire constituency is located within Nairobi City County, and has an area of 13 km2.
The current constituency boundaries were revised prior to the 2013 elections.
Mwai Kibaki, who later became the president of Kenya, served as a Makadara MP before moving to Othaya Constituency.
The constituency was also represented by Gideon Kioko Mbuvi who was elected in a by-election in 2010, replacing Dickson Wathika, whose election in 2007 was invalidated due to 'election irregularities'.
It is headed by a Deputy County Commissioner, working under the Ministry of Interior.