Nyeri County to benefit from Sh9.6b Chinese projects

The firms have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nyeri County government to engage in the construction of houses, roads, bridges and bus parks.

Chinese Firm Avic- ENG is interested in putting up housing units within Nyeri County at a cost of Sh4.5 billion while WU YI Company Limited signed an agreement to put up bus parks, bridges and roads estimated to be worth Sh5.1 billion.

Nyeri Executive for Planning, Housing, Roads and Infrastructure, John Maina confirmed that the two firms signed MOUs with the county government during a visit to China by the executive last month.

Maina said that Nyeri County was the first county to secure a deal with the firms for real estate projects in the country.

"The Nyeri government will offer the land for the investment and secure sovereign guarantee from the national government, while the firms will invest the funds and technical expertise in the projects," Maina said.

He said the agreements were the first step in securing the necessary partnership with the Chinese firms in improving infrastructure in the county.

Representatives from the two companies are expected in the county this month to conduct feasibility studies.

"One of the firms, Avic ENG, has some representatives who are going around the county identifying the areas that are likely to be ideal for the projects," Maina said.

He added that the county government had already identified a list of bridges which would benefit from the partnership and would consult with the company.

"Once we have identified the sites of the projects and secured the sovereign guarantee, then we can proceed to sign contracts with the specific details," Maina noted.