The Kitengela Expo, which opens tomorrow, seeks to interest middle-income earners and estate developers into properties spanning across the Machakos and Kajiado counties, writes ALLAN OLINGO
Mention Kitengela to anyone and depending on his or her lifestyle and stage in life two things will pop up: nyama choma and plots.
Many Nairobins have explored the Kitengela plains for both. Thankfully, the hassles of looking for a plot in Kitengela will be eased for many during the Kitengela Investors and Homes Expo.
According to the director of the expo, Alex Muema more than 40 exhibitors, among them Equity Bank, Standard Chartered and Rafiki Micro Finance will participate, but they are targeting over 60 exhibitors so that the County can be served fully.
“The Kitengela Investors and Homes Expo will commence on Madaraka Day that is from June 1 until Sunday June 3 and will be sponsored by the Kenya Power, East African Portland Cement and Housing Finance,” said Muema.
database creation
The expo is an initiative to create a database of, and relation between, buyers, sellers and investors all under one roof. The three-day event that is targeted to attract over 2,000 walk in viewers daily will consist of approximately 40 exhibitors related to the property sector.
According to Muema, most people lack basic information and support to allow them to realise their dream of home ownership and development and this exhibition offers a wide variety of properties ranging from residential to commercial and even holiday homes.
Says Muema: “We expect two categories of exhibitors; those with investments in Kitengela, Athi River, Mombasa Road who will get an opportunity to showcase and advertise their products and services. There will also be exhibitors coming to market survey investment opportunities in order to gain insights into the rapidly developing county of Kajiado.
central hub
The expo will showcase property in Mlolongo, Kinanie, Athi River, Daystar, Kyumbi/Makutano, Malili, Salama, Konza IT City, Konza Town, Oltoroto, Ilpolosat, Isinya, Kisanju Kajiado, Jamii BORA Complex, Kiserian, Tuala, Sholinge, Birika and Ongata Rongai.
Themed “Exploring investment opportunities in the larger Kitengela zones, especially in real estate and related services”, the Kitengela expo targets real estate developers and managers, insurance, banking, medical, interior designers and all other service providers related to real estate.
“This is the only expo that has incentives for developers exhibiting low cost housing. One of our objectives is to have exhibitors who will provide cheaper land for development like the Ndatani Enterprises that sells plots.
We are also negotiating with the East Africa Portland Cement to give a good discount to real estate developers within this region,” says Muema.
“We are exposing prospective investors to land owners, in order to get land cheaply and avoid brokers.
We also intend to formally start migration of developers to the counties as the devolvement of governments as well as getting the developers and the suppliers together for them to negotiate deals,” says Muema.
In its first edition, the Kitengela expo is aimed at opening up the county in line with devolvement of government powers and economies mostly because of the growing interest amongst Kenyans in putting up homes within this county.
site dealings
This expo plans to be different from the others as it will have on site dealings (you do not have to book a site visit), will be made with family outings to explore and the famed Kitengela nyama choma experience.
Says Muema: “Our target is to continue expanding so that we can accommodate many people while ensuring that our exhibitors and their clients are satisfied.”
Amongst the exhibitors are Ndatani Enterprises, Yukos Investments, City and County Management and the East African University.
Kitengela has in the recent past created a property buzz amongst middle income earners mostly because of the affordable land.
It’s predicted that in the next five years, it will be one of the satellite areas that will be house many Nairobi residents.
