Consultants sought for renovation of estates

The late Tom Mboya's house in Ziwani Estate, Nairobi.

Consultants have been invited to tender to draw up a plan to upgrade colonial-era Nairobi housing estates and construct a light rail system.

The study will lay out the scope, budget and timelines for the multi-billion shilling project that has been in the pipeline for more than a decade.

“Nairobi City County Government in conjunction with Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, has initiated a study to guide urban renewal and redevelopment of Eastlands for the period 2016-2036,” reads the Gazette notice.

The plan will be carried out under the Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Project.

Some 1,100 hectares have been earmarked for the project in the pioneer estates of Kaloleni, Mbotela, Shauri Moyo, Bahati, Kariokor, Ziwani, Uhuru and Jericho.

Adjacent estates owned by companies and individuals such as Kimathi, Majengo, Buru Buru and Harambee will be included.

Urban renewal

“The purpose of the study is to provide an urban renewal planning framework for guiding integrated socio-economic development,” explains the notice by the Nairobi City County seeking the public's participation.

Also targeted for upgrading are the 200 acres around Nairobi Railway Station, which will be the hub of the light rail system connecting Nairobi’s central business district and other areas around the county.

Previous administrations had unsuccessfully sought to execute the project meant to give a facelift to Nairobi’s Eastlands area.