Kenyan developers unveil 400-acre Kiambu real estate project

NAIROBI: A group of Kenyan investors have launched a 400-acre mixed-use real-estate development in Kiambu that will have more than 3,200 houses and a logistics park.

With direct access to the national corridor route of Waiyaki Way, Property developer Tilisi Developments Ltd is putting up a mixed-use real-estate development - a live, work and play suburb, with residential estates, schools, shops, and a new logistics estate.

“We see the Tilisi logistics estate as a key contributor to Kenyan economic growth and success, with many companies now suffering insufficient warehousing capacity and insufficient access to facilities for repackaging and dispatch,” said the firm’s co-CEO Kavit Shah.

The new town is set in Kiambu County, which ranks as the most urbanised of Nairobi’s neighbouring counties, at 60.8 per cent urbanisation, higher than both Machakos and Kajiado counties, and is set to open doors for traders seeking to set up in one of the country’s fastest developing counties.

The first phase of the new Limuru Housing Estate will involve construction of common-use infrastructure, apartments, maisonettes and town houses. Apartments will eventually number 2,000, with the rest being town houses and maisonettes.

The developer has set aside 178 acres for the residential houses, 85 acres for the logistics centre and eight acres for schools. Mr Shah said the logistics centre will mainly target companies with insufficient warehousing capacity.

According to Shah, the centre will host light industries, warehouse and repackaging facilities, shops, petrol stations, parks and public service vehicle bays. He said the project has also brought team work to its leadership with the novel structure of a double chief executive officer, with both himself and Ranee Nanji appointed as joint, full-time co-CEOs.

“We are seamless in covering the full responsibilities and direction of such a large-scale project,” said Ranee Nanji, who is one of the first Kenyan women to take up position as the leader of any of the country’s mega-projects.

EXISTING GAP

“Our concept, in developing Tilisi into, effectively, multiple different projects, is to fill the existing gap in logistics

availability, and provide an infrastructure and exceptional facilities for residential developments that include the kind of outdoor space, community living and serenity that are hard to find in the city,” she addded in a statement.

According to Shah, a development of this size is a capital intensive undertaking that requires dedicated funding from start to completion. “The infrastructure we are putting in place will attract investors to partner with us and experience growth opportunities at Tilisi,” he added.

“This is a huge undertaking, which will draw in many further partners. We think it is the right time for this node to shine, and experience similar development and growth to what has been seen on Mombasa Road and Thika Road. Tilisi is really an excellent investment opportunity,” said Nanji.

The eight lane Thika highway has attracted several residential projects like Tatu City, Migaa, and Thika Green.