Tatu City, the 5000-acre mixed-use development with SEZ status in Kenya

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Contractor appointed to construct infrastructure projects at Tatu City Central

A contractor, Laxmanbhai Construction Limited, has been appointed to construct infrastructure projects at Tatu Central, a new business and living district of Tatu City.

The firm, which was selected after a rigorous vetting process will complete the first phase of infrastructure and public realm works. Preston Mendenhall revealed that the project will involve the construction of a high-standard road with stormwater and potable water reticulation, a sewerage system, a traffic interchange, parking, and electrical and ICT reticulation.

According to Mendenhall, who is the owner and developer of Tatu City, this contract also comprises the construction of an irrigation system and a green public plaza that will have a sculpture, a water fountain, a sitting area, and the signature mugumo tree featured in Tatu City’s logo.

Tatu City Project Overview

Tatu City project is a 5000-acre land delving into the marvel of African urbanization. Its special nature is promising decongestion in Nairobi, Kenya. The conventional view is that Nairobi city is a catastrophe caused by people’s continuous inflow into the city. Tatu City represents a brand-new way of living for Kenyans and visitors, generating a special life, work, and play domain free from traffic and long-distance travel to and fro.

The multipurpose development consists of homes, hospitals, offices, schools, shopping malls, and integrated sports, entertainment, and lifestyle hubs. There is also an industrial park, which is the largest industrial zone in East Africa. The fact is that Taut City has enough space to accommodate 150,000 residents and 30,000 days visitors.

Project Timeline 

2008

A consortium of investors represented today by Rendeavour obtained the land that makes Tatu City. The investors paid USD 21.7 million for the Tatu farm and USD 65.7 million for the Kofinaf land. Scofinaf is a Belgium-owned coffee and rubber company. Scofinaf held thousands of coffee estates on the ground from the 1960s to 2008.

2012

Renaissance Group started the first phase of the eleven-phase project in 2012, and residents expected to occupy the residential units by the end of 2013. The $5 billion residential structure was ready for retail operation in 2014. The Russian Renaissance Group collaborated with Kenyan Investors for the development of Tatu City. Development partners are:

  • David Langdon
  • Lariak Landscapes Ltd
  • Planning Project Management Ltd
  • Scroll & Priest (K) Ltd
  • Ogilvy Public Relations
  • Gibb Africa Limited
  • Capita Symonds & Co Advocates.

Kenyan investors and the Renaissance Group calculated the first phase to house approximately 62,000 residents.

2014

The 8-kilometre circa of gravel that accesses the Tatu City Industrial Park, Logistics Park, and the ring road around Kijani Ridge, was completed. According to the Tatu City Team, the required water drainage systems and bridges of the 8km circa were also completed. The developers could now have easier access to their properties within Tatu City.

Oct 2014

Construction of Kenya’s US2.5bn Tatu City resumes after stalling for 4 years

Tatu City in Kenya
Give me Tatu City on a table: The ambitious plan will be executed by a partnership between Renaissance Partners, the principal investing arm of emerging markets firm Renaissance Group and Kenyan investors

 

Construction of the Tatu City has begun after extensive wrangling that now delayed the Kiambu county-based project for four years. Tatu is a residential complex invention that will be set up on 2, 500 acres of land, and will be the first privately managed city in Kenya.

Court cases involving ownership have led to stalling of the Tatu City project after the commencement in May 2011, of a project that was conceived in October 2010. Its development strategy has been re-assessed according to Chief Executive of Tatu City Ltd Lucas Omariba, who adds that the project has now resumed on track. Tatu City is a city planned 15 kilometres away from Nairobi, Kenya.

Omariba said this week, “I am happy to inform you that we have now commenced development of infrastructure for the first two phases of our development.” Access roads to the city will be built by Sinohydro Tianjin Engineering Co., a Chinese firm awarded the contract by Tatu City Ltd. This will constitute Phase I of the project, after which civil works will be carried out to service the plots on which developments will be set up. The latter will be done before the end of the year.

Apparently, those wishing to participate in the project development will have an opportunity to purchase space at US$ 258,137 per acre. Already, 18-five-acre plots are available for buyers. Individual developers will also have access to a 150-acre gated community, the Kijani Ridge, one of the planned portions of the city.

Tatu City will be constructed in 10 phases until 2022 when it is set for completion. The mixed-use satellite city will house 77,000 residents and will tap into the city economies in the country, amidst growing middle-class and urbanization trends. It will be a decentralized urban centre.

The ambitious plan is a partnership venture between Renaissance Partners, the principal investing arm of emerging markets firm Renaissance Group, and Kenyan investors. In addition to Tatu City, Kenya is also into an ambitious plan to construct a techno city, Konza, a US14.5bn project whose Phase I has already kicked off.  

2015

In January 2015, the construction work of roads, water, and wastewater began. In the same month, the Kijani Ridge Perimeter fence’s construction began, and the substation and internal network design for precincts 1B and 4B were completed.

Unilever East Africa, one of the leading consumer goods companies in Kenya, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Tatu City Limited for the attainment of 70 acres of industrial land for the future development of its manufacturing operations.

Nov 2015

Chinese firm signs deal with Tatu City in Kenya to construct the infrastructure

Chinese firm signs deal with Tatu City in Kenya to construct infrastructure

Chinese firm Sinohydro has signed an infrastructure construction deal with Tatu City in Kenya. The deal will see the water, sewerage, and temporary road work developed.

The agreement worth US$ 4m will cater for basic infrastructure that will supplement the first phase of the project and another seven-kilometre temporary road will be constructed to help facilitate ongoing construction activities.

“We are pleased to extend our cooperation with Sinohydro, which has already successfully completed several stages of Tatu City’s infrastructure development,” said Tatu City Acting CEO Anthony Njoroge.

The 2,500-acre Tatu City in Kenya which is expected to be completed over the next year will host several international businesses like Dormans, Kim-Fay, and Maxam. It is also expected to host over 70,000 residents when complete and people anticipate that it will help decongest the capital city by offering a unique live, work, and play environment.

Tatu City is located near operational and influential places like Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Runda, Kenyatta University, UniCity, Thika Highway, and the Northern and Eastern bypasses.

Sinohydro was originally well known as China’s first brand in hydropower construction, responsible for 65% of the large- and medium-scale hydropower stations in the country. It has 12 holdings and 20 wholly-owned subsidiaries based in China, 5 regional offices abroad in Asia/Pacific, Africa, America, Eurasia, and West Asia/North Africa to supervise the market development of 113 overseas offices in over 80 countries.

2016

Jan 2016

Multi-million dollar Tatu City in Kenya appoints US firm to plan for power supply

Mutli-million dollar Tatu City in Kenya appoints US firm to plan for power supply
An artist impression of Tatu City in Kenya. The Industrial complex has appointed Power Engineers Inc as power consultants.

 

A multi-million satellite complex in Tatu City in Kenya has announced that it has appointed US-based firm Power Engineers Inc., one of the largest consulting engineering firms in the United States, to plan power infrastructure for use within the industrial complex.

Tatu City in Kenya management said that The Power Engineers Inc is well suited for the job having worked with clients such as the World Bank, US Trade and Development Agency, and Inter-American Development Bank.

This latest deal is a strong indication that the project will be implemented a year after stalling. The project was marred with court cases over land ownership a year after its construction kicked off in 2010.

But in a move that signals its implementation is finally looking up, China’s Sinohydro signed an agreement last month worth Sh400 million to set up basic infrastructure for water, sewerage, and temporary road works relating to the first phase of the project.

The satellite city has especially attracted real estate investors who have expressed strong interest in the project, with more than 60 per cent of plots in Tatu City’s first residential phase, Kijani Ridge, sold.

Firms that have committed to take up space at the upcoming complex include coffee company Dormans, tissue maker Kim-Fay, Heineken beverages distributor Maxam and Unilever which is set to build a manufacturing facility within its 420-acre light industrial zone within the proposed industrial city.

Tatu City will be constructed in 10 phases until 2022 when it is set for completion. The mixed-use satellite city will house 77,000 residents and will tap into the city economies in the country, amidst growing middle-class and urbanization trends. It will be a decentralized urban centre.

The ambitious plan is a partnership venture between Renaissance Partners, the principal investing arm of emerging markets firm Renaissance Group, and Kenyan investors. In a move that is set to put Kenya on the world map as a technology hub, Kenya is also constructing a multimillion-dollar Konza techno city.

2016

2016 was a year of infrastructure launches and warehouses and factories in Tatu Industrial Park. In the same year, international investors secured legal support. The construction by developer Lifestyle Properties began in November.

Kenya Rugby proved 2016 to be a year of progress for Tatu City after announcing a partnership that would aid their test matches and youth rugby development.

2017

Nova Pioneer campus admitted their first students ready to deliver education on-site. A span of housing development was built, and residents got a chance to begin building their homes.

Jan 2017

US $14m dispute interferes with construction works at the mega Tatu City

A US$ 14m dispute has interfered with the construction of the mega Tatu City development project leading to a temporary halt.

The dispute engulfed the contractors- Ongata Works and Tatu City Ltd. The High Court gave orders and directed Ongata Works to execute a bond of US $1.4m as a condition for granting the injunction.

Court hearing

The contractor and the developer differed after Tatu City ordered Ongata Works to leave the site within 14 days, citing the failure by the contractor to comply with certain instructions. However, the contractor went to court and obtained orders restraining the developer from evicting them and taking over the site pending the hearing of the case.

Further to this, Ongata Works accused Tatu City of frustrating and obstructing their work and changing instructions along the way leading to delays in completion. The construction works have since been stopped pending the court’s determination.

Tatu City is a 5,000-acre, mixed-use development with homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sports & entertainment complex, and a manufacturing area for more than 150,000 residents and tens of thousands of daily visitors.

Schools and businesses are already open in Tatu City, and a range of houses are under construction to suit all incomes. Tatu City represents a new way of living and thinking for all Kenyans, creating a unique live, work, and play environment that is free from traffic congestion and long-distance commuting.

Tatu City’s design

Underlying Tatu City’s design is a visionary concept aiming to shift urban development in Kenya from the familiar single-node model to a decentralized urban environment. By doing so, Tatu will significantly de-congest the City of Nairobi by offering a unique life, work and play environment for an estimated 100,000 residents and 30,000-day visitors.

Jun 2017

Construction of the logistics and distribution centre at Tatu City starts

Construction of logistics and distribution centre at Tatu city starts

The construction of a US$60m logistics and distribution centre at Tatu City in Kenya has commenced; this is according to Africa Logistics Properties (ALP) – the company carrying out the project.

According to ALP Chief Executive Toby Selman, the first unit of the logistics and distribution center measuring 14,000 square meters is set to be opened in September 2018 and after that two more units will be constructed, bringing the total warehouse capacity to 50,000 square meters.

“Our vision is to fundamentally improve supply chain infrastructure across Africa and disrupt the current status quo of poor quality ‘go down’ warehousing,” said Mr Selman during the groundbreaking ceremony at Tatu City.

ALP has already attracted the interest of 43 local, regional, and multinational companies and at the same time hopes to win the manufacturers at Tatu’s Industrial Park such as Chandaria, Unilever, and Dorman’s Coffee.

“Its addition to Tatu Industrial Park confirms our location as the hub for logistics and warehousing in East Africa,” stated Stephen Jennings, founder, and CEO of Rendeavour, owner, and developer of Tatu City.

The mega project has been funded by a range of shareholders including International Finance Corporation, CDC Group, DOB Equity, Mbuyu Capital, and Maris.

ALP’s grade-A warehouses promise better quality features such as a higher stacking capability to eliminate spoilage of goods. The company is also planning to construct an 80,000-square-meter warehouse in Limuru to take advantage of the busy zone.

Nov 2017

Tatu City in Kenya begins its electricity generation bid

Developers of Kenya’s largest mixed-use development, Tatu City will apply for a power generation license with the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Tatu City Power Company will seek the license if no individual, company or association objects to the request. The firm plans to supply the power to consumers but has not publicly disclosed the generation method or cost.

The 5,000-acre Kiambu County proposed city has attracted scores of industrial entities to its 425-acre light industrial park special economic zone. Country head Nick Langford said the project will not hurt any business, environment, or individual within the facility.

Power generation viability

The move follows findings by a US-based Power Engineers Inc. They have been hired by Tatu City developers to establish the viability of power generation.

Tatu City, the mixed-use satellite city near Nairobi has selected Power Engineers Inc to consult on the development’s power requirements. Power Engineers is one of the largest consulting engineering firms in the United States.

Power Engineers Inc.’s clients include the World Bank, the US Trade and Development Agency as well and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Local companies currently developing warehouses and industrial plants include global coffee roasters and markets, Dormans, tissue maker Kim-Fay, Heineken beverages distributor Maxam, Chandaria Tissue factory, Africa Logistics Warehouses and Unilever.

2018

Tatu City progressed well; tarmacked roads are more than 20 km, and more infrastructure developments were constructed in the Tatu Industrial Park. When complete, Tatu City will possess over 100 tarmacked routes.

Jan 2018

Tatu City to set up a high-end estate in Kiambu County

Tatu City is planning to construct a high-end estate on its 5,000-acre land in Kiambu County. The new estate will rival that of Muthaiga and Karen which are considered some of Nairobi’s leafy suburbs.

The mega project has been divided into residential land in a way that apartments, whose construction is ongoing, will be constructed closer to the road, followed by bungalows and villas on half-and-a-quarter-acre plots. Additionally, the deep inside will be the proposed exurb that will constitute homeowners on more than one acre each.

Rendeavour is the American firm that is developing Tatu City, they own more than 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) of land in the urban growth trajectories of major cities in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nick Langford, country head for Rendeavour confirmed the reports and said that while they focus on the first two segments, they also have plans for an exclusive neighbourhood.

Tatu City is aligned with the vision of the Nairobi Metro 2030 Strategy and is also part of Kenya’s Vision 2030. Tatu City is a 5,000-acre, mixed-use development with homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sports & entertainment complex, and a manufacturing area for more than 150,000 residents and tens of thousands of daily visitors.

Schools and businesses are already open in Tatu City, and a range of houses are under construction to suit all incomes. Tatu City represents a new way of living and thinking for all Kenyans, creating a unique live, work, and play environment that is free from traffic congestion and long-distance commuting.

Underlying Tatu City’s design is a visionary concept aiming to shift urban development in Kenya from the familiar single-node model to a decentralized urban environment. By doing so, Tatu will significantly de-congest the City of Nairobi by offering a unique life, work and play environment for an estimated 100,000 residents and 30,000-day visitors.

Sep 2018

ALP opens a modern grade-A warehousing park at Tatu City

ALP opens modern grade –A warehousing park 75% pre-leased

Africa Logistics Properties (ALP) has launched its first 49,000 sqm of modern grade-A warehousing at ALP North Industrial Park, Tatu City with 75% of the facility pre-leased at a time when other segments of the commercial, retail, and residential real estate market are struggling to achieve total occupancy of 75%.

“The near complete uptake of ALP North before launch speaks to the scale of the warehousing shortage in Kenya. But it also demonstrates that real estate requires developers to concentrate on the genuine areas of market need,” said Toby Selman, CEO of ALP.

Demand for grade-A warehousing

The demand for grade-A warehousing, which delivers significant cost savings and efficiency for users, currently far exceeds supply in the country, with warehouse users reporting that finding suitable facilities is frequently impossible, according to recent research by Tilisi Developments.

This shortage contrasts sharply with overbuilding in some other real estate segments. The oversupply of commercial space in Nairobi reached 4.7m sq ft in 2017, while retail space oversupply reached 3.7 m sq ft. Meanwhile, the supply of mall space rose by 41.6% last year, even as demand stagnated.

As a result, according to Knight Frank’s 2018 Kenya Market Update report, the occupancy rate for new retail centres is now running between 60 and 75%.

This shifting balance of supply and demand has also changed relative investment yields, with commercial and retail yields falling from 11% three years ago to eight per cent by 2017, while residential property yields are now running at 5.6%. This has moved warehousing yields to pole position within real estate, at 8.5 %.

“The proportion of pre-leasing has also been driven by the quality of the warehousing, which just does not exist elsewhere in Kenya and East Africa at the moment,” said Selman.

That scarcity has driven far higher pre-leasing by ALP in Nairobi than is normal elsewhere. In the US, the pre-lease rate recently rose to 43 per cent from a 17-year running average of 38%, according to a recent report by CBRE, a global leader in real estate services.

However, ALP’s distribution hubs have brought international design practices that now sharply boost efficiency and productivity. For instance, the new warehousing offers pallet stacking12 meters high, instead of the four meters offered by others in the market, as well as large column grids of 12m by 24m, which results in denser storage capacity and reduces the cost per pallet by up to 30%.

The site also incorporates laser-leveled floors with an anti-scratch coating that bears up to 10 tonnes. These allow the incorporation of automation systems, such as dock levellers, mechanized loading conveyors, and fork-lift-mechanized loading, cranes, and loading platforms, which together improve turn-around time and cut labour by up to 76%.

Traffic management flows also facilitate quicker turnaround times for trucks and deliveries, and warehousing offers improved health and safety measures, firefighting systems with sprinklers, fibre optic telecommunications, and solar panels on rooftops for greater energy efficiency.

Located on the key peripheral routes connecting Kenya’s largest airport, JKIA, to the main transport corridors from Kenya to Uganda and Rwanda, “ALP’s strategic positioning further increases distribution and supply chain efficiencies,” said Selman.

About Africa Logistics Properties (ALP)

Africa Logistics Properties (ALP) is a specialist integrated property investment company that develops, acquires, and owns class-A industrial and logistics properties in principal cities across Africa. ALP was founded in 2016 by Toby Selman and strategic investor Maris.

ALP leverages its team throughout the region via a deep understanding of global customer and logistics demands, international best practices in warehousing design specifications, construction, and property management along with local expertise in market dynamics, site selection, and regulatory approvals.

ALP is supported by global institutional shareholder investors. The company is currently developing Nairobi’s first international grade-A logistics warehousing parks.

2019

Tatu City installed its first solar plant, the largest in East Africa, to create renewable energy. Two thousand eight hundred eighty solar modules are mounted on 5,700 meters of roof space at Dormans Coffee’s Global headquarters located at Tatu Industrial Park. The developers’ focus shifted to infrastructural developments on the residential side of the city.

April 2019

Kenya’s Tatu City installs its first solar power plant

US $66m set to be invested in Kenya's Malindi 52MW solar project

Tatu City in Kenya has installed its first solar power plant. This is in line with the city’s long-term commitment to the environmental conversation through harnessing renewable energy sources.

Nick Langford, Head of Utilities for Rendeavour, Tatu City’s owner and developer announced the reports and said that the solar installation was in partnership with Equator Energy. “Solar power allows us to contribute to clean energy, which is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We are proud of this milestone and pleased to know that residents will enjoy sustained power supply at very minimal costs”.

Also Read: Egypt to launch world’s largest solar park in August

First solar plant

The installation project consisted of mounting 2,880 solar modules on 5,700 square meters of roof space at Dormans Coffee’s global headquarters at Tatu Industrial Park. The plant is expected to produce 1.4 million kilowatt-hours per year.

The solar plant whose installation took only six days will additionally reduce carbon dioxide emission by at least 1 million kilograms per year while providing 1 MW of electricity.

“The power produced from the solar panels will be distributed for use by homes and businesses within the city. We are excited to see it in operation and deliver cheaper and cleaner power to an entire city. We look forward to rolling out more solar power as Tatu City grows,” Equator Energy CEO Sebastian Noethlichs said.

Tatu Industrial park

Tatu Industrial Park is zoned for light, non-polluting industries, and several international, regional, and local companies are positioning their business at Tatu City for growth in East Africa they include Dormans Coffee, Kim-Fay, Unilever, Chandaria Industries, Africa Logistics Properties, Freight Forwarder Kenya, Stecol, and Tianlong.

The industrial park is being constructed in ten phases until 2022 when it is set for completion. The mixed-use satellite city will house 77,000 residents and will tap into the city economies in the country, amidst growing middle-class and urbanization trends. It will be a decentralized urban centre.

Other development projects in session at Tatu City include the construction of schools by Nova Pioneer and Crawford International, as well as more than 5,000 homes under construction and development.

2020

Tatu City continues to grow, and the Tatu City Team plans to host more events to dilate the community and evolve excellent infrastructure for its residents.

Jun 2021

SMEC awarded a contract for phase two of Kenya’s Tatu Industrial Park project

Tatu City has appointed SMEC, a global engineering firm as the lead infrastructure consultant for phase two of the Tatu Industrial Park project in Kenya. Samuel Gathukia, Project Manager, Tatu City made the announcement and said the firm will oversee the design, tender processing, and construction of infrastructure.

“Following a highly competitive selection process, we appointed SMEC due to its expertise and commitment to excellent service delivery across small and mega projects worldwide. Our partnership with SMEC underpins our commitment to expand Tatu City’s international standard infrastructure to the second phase of Tatu Industrial Park,” said Mr. Gathukia.

Tatu City project sits on a 5000-acre land, located 30 minutes from Westlands. Its special nature is promising decongestion in Nairobi, Kenya amidst growing middle-class and urbanization trends. The City project involves mixed-use development with homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sports and entertainment complex, and a manufacturing area for more than 250,000 residents and tens of thousands of daily visitors.

90% of phase one of the park is sold. Among regional and multi-national businesses, Industry leaders at Tatu Industrial Park include; Dormans, Cooper K-Brands, Davis & Shirtliff, Cold Solutions, Copia, Friendship Group, FFK, Twiga Foods, and Stecol.

Phase two development has already begun and is expected to be completed by the end of May 2022. In the second phase Kenya Wine Agencies, majority-owned by Distell of South Africa, broke ground in February on a state-of-the-art, production, and distribution facility.

Other development projects in session at Tatu City include the construction of schools by Nova Pioneer and Crawford International, as well as more than 5,000 homes under construction and development. Tatu City has also installed solar power plants, in line with its long-term commitment to the environmental conversation through harnessing renewable energy sources.

New Tatu City manufacturing plant to be developed in Kenya

A new Tatu City manufacturing plant in Kenya is set to be developed. Nairobi-based plastics firm, Super Plastics announced the plans to open the manufacturing plant at the Tatu City Industrial Park’s light industrial and logistics zone.

Managing director Stephen Gathiaka said the firm will specialize in manufacturing light-density polyethene plastic products for cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies in Kenya and East Africa.

“We chose Tatu City because we want to settle into a modern industrial park and take advantage of the ready infrastructure. Tatu City Special Economic Zone gives us incentives to increase our investment, expand our business and create more jobs. We also look forward to the opportunity to tap into the business-to-business synergies at Tatu Industrial Park,” said Mr. Gathiaka.

Tatu City

The City, located 30 minutes from Westlands, represents a new way of living for Kenyans, creating a unique live, work, and play environment that is free from traffic congestion and long-distance commuting. It is a mixed-use development with homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sports and entertainment complex, and a manufacturing area for more than 250,000 residents and tens of thousands of daily visitors.

Early this month, Tatu City appointed Australia-based construction company SMEC as the lead infrastructure consultant for the second phase of its Tatu Industrial Park development in Ruiru. SMEC will oversee the tendering and building of roads, drainage, street lighting, water distribution pipeline, wastewater system, electrical networks, and IT systems at the 2,500-acre site, with the work expected to be completed in May 2022.

90% of phase one of the park is sold. Among regional and multi-national businesses, Industry leaders at Tatu Industrial Park include; Dormans, Cooper K-Brands, Davis & Shirtliff, Cold Solutions, Copia, Friendship Group, FFK, Twiga Foods, and Stecol.

Phase two development has already begun and is expected to be completed by the end of May 2022. In the second phase Kenya Wine Agencies, majority-owned by Distell of South Africa, broke ground in February on a state-of-the-art, production, and distribution facility.

Other development projects in session at Tatu City include the construction of schools by Nova Pioneer and Crawford International, as well as more than 5,000 homes under construction and development. Tatu City has also installed solar power plants, in line with its long-term commitment to the environmental conversation through harnessing renewable energy sources.

August 2021

Unity Homes, a Kenyan property developer, has completed 10% of the Unity East housing project, a KSH 5.4 billion endeavour. The property, which is situated on a 10.4-acre parcel of land in Tatu City‘s Ruiru Sub-County, has 64 of the 640 units that make up the project’s second phase and are now being constructed.

The last batch of units is scheduled to be completed by September 2024. This is according to Unity Homes, which stated it would deliver the project in batches.

The developer also launched Silver Hill in October 2022. The company completed Unity West in November 2021. Unity Gardens was completed in 2018. Performance-wise, Ruiru apartments registered an average sale price of KSh 89,418 per SQM in Q3 2022.

Due to its high quality and desirable location in Tatu City, the apartments at the Unity East housing project are notable for having an average price per SQM of KSH 103,012, which is more than the market average for Ruiru.

On the other hand, the high occupancy and uptake rates attained in Ruiru make the development viable because the developer is anticipated to get higher returns.

Will the Unity East housing project have any impact on the country’s annual deficit?

After it is completed, the Unity East housing project will likely contribute to reducing Kenya’s annual housing deficit of 200,000 units. The deficit currently stands at 2 million units.

Furthermore, the project will give people decent homes. It will also improve homeownership rates in the nation. The rates, as of 2020, were significantly low at 21.3% in urban areas compared to other African states like South Africa and Ghana. The two countries had urban homeownership rates of 53% and 47.2%, respectively.

In other developments, the construction of 176 million-dollar homes in Kiambu County has just commenced. This is thanks to the efforts of the Kenyan real estate firms Heri Homes and Finsco Africa.

Unity East development project overview

Unity East Development in Tatu City is an upcoming exclusive, elegant estate of contemporary, low-rise 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments spread over a total area of 10.4 acres, in a gated community at the heart of Tatu City in Kiambu, Kenya.

Tatu City is a 5,000-acre, new city featuring homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sports & entertainment complex, and a manufacturing area that will create employment for more than 250,000 residents and tens of thousands of daily visitors.

Unity East Development in Tatu City is the second phase of Unity Homes development, following the first phase (Unity West), a modern, low-rise, family-friendly residential development sitting on a 7-acre piece of land in the same city, which is almost complete.

Home Buyers Take Possession of Sh4.7 Million Houses at Tatu City - Business Today Kenya

Reportedly, Unity West boasts a total of 384 units, 100 of which are already complete and occupied with the remaining due for completion by April next year (2022) at the latest.

Unity East apartments, according to the developer, boast cool balconies with glass railing and floor-to-ceiling sliding balcony doors, making the most of the apartments’ spectacular panoramic park views with the community’s expansive outdoor amenities close by. Each apartment also has calming natural palettes and a modern kitchen giving a lovely, quality, and elegant indoor experience.

Generally, Unity East’s apartment amenities include; an open plan lounge opening up to a spacious balcony with glass railing and sliding aluminium doors; a futuristic style imported kitchen with mosaic backsplash, standard extractor hood, and a breakfast bar; strip lights and spotlights illuminating the kitchen space beautifully, and polished Italian style granite worktops.

Unity East- Property For Sale | 2 & 3 Bed Apartments For Sale | Price from USD 56,000 - Unity Homes Kenya
Proposed Unity East
Proposed Unity East

This is in addition to; a European 85kg stainless steel, high-security door; wooden teak textured ceramic tiles a mix of porcelain hexagonal tiles, a spacious utility room with a provision for a washing machine, 150L solar water heating with a booster, smoke detectors; Italian style stainless kitchen and bathroom fittings; bathrooms consist of a water closet, frameless glass shower screens, rain shower & a vanity; and standard white UV high-quality wardrobes in all bedrooms.

Project Team

Developer: Unity Homes

South African companies invest US $93m in Kenya’s Tatu City project

US $93m has been invested by South African companies in the Tatu City project in Kenya. South Africa’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu confirmed the report and said the investment is part of the South African and Kenyan government’s commitment to strengthen bilateral trade and investment.

Tatu City project is a 5000-acre land delving into the marvel of African urbanization. Its special nature is promising decongestion in Nairobi, Kenya. The Special Economic Zone located 30 minutes from central Nairobi, represents one of the largest concentrations of South African foreign direct investment in Kenya and East Africa.

Among investments by leading South African companies at Tatu City include; Crawford International School, a 20-acre, multi-billion-shilling investment by ADvTECH, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed education group; Kenya Wine Agencies Ltd (KWAL), which is majority-owned by South African beverage conglomerate Distell; and Cold Solutions, an investment by ARCH Emerging Markets Partners, which is backed by South African businessman Patrice Motsepe.

Also Read: New Tatu City manufacturing plant to be developed in Kenya

Transformational investments

“I am delighted to witness these transformational investments South African businesses are making in Kenya. Our private sector businesses are natural partners to grow capital flows and knowledge exchange,” said High Commissioner Mahlangu.

The multipurpose development consists of homes, hospitals, offices, schools, shopping malls, and integrated sports, entertainment, and lifestyle hubs.  Currently, at Tatu City Special Economic Zone, more than 60 local, regional, and multi-national businesses have opened or started development. These include industry leaders such as Dormans, Cooper K-Brands, KWAL, Cold Solutions, Chandaria Industries, Kim-Fay, Davis & Shirtliff, Copia, FFK, Twiga Foods, and Stecol, among others.

Residential developments at Tatu City include Unity Homes, Lifestyle Heights, and Kijani Ridge. More than 5,000 homes are completed or under construction and Crawford International and Nova Pioneer schools educate more than 3,000 students daily.

Sep 2022

Kenya’s Largest Contact Centre is Under Construction at Tatu City

At Tatu City, the construction of Kenya’s largest contact centre, which will employ thousands of young people, has officially begun. The 4000-seat facility is set to open at the end of next year and will enable business process outsourcing for the whole customer lifecycle, including both traditional voice and digital contacts.

The new facility has broken ground on Eneo at Tatu Central, the ultra-modern contact centre located in Tatu City, and is operated by CCI Global, Africa’s biggest international contact centre operator. Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA) is behind the project, which also includes plans for a second office tower and a retail centre in Tatu City.

In the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other foreign markets, CCI manages outbound, inbound, and web chat multi-channel contact centres that service the mobile, technology, telecommunications, and financial industries.

More Projects around the Tatu Contact Centre

GREA co-founder and CEO Greg Pearson revealed at the groundbreaking that the company would build a second office tower with retail – including stores, restaurants, and a supermarket – next to CCI Global. GREA and its parent company, Grit Real Estate Income Group, are set to establish its Kenyan offices here, with the remaining space being multi-tenanted. Eneo at Tatu Central will be the focal point of Tatu City’s commercial centre, with a total of 24,000 square meters of office and retail space.

Tatu City is Kenya’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ). For the first ten years, businesses registered as SEZ Enterprises pay a 10% corporation tax rate, followed by a 15% rate for the next ten years (the standard corporate tax rate is 30%). Additional advantages include a 16% reduction in VAT, import duty exemptions, and reduced withholding taxes.

In Tatu City, more than 70 enterprises are open, or under construction, 3,000 children are educated daily by Kenyan and foreign schools, and 3,000 flats are occupied or under construction. Eneo at Tatu Central is the newest project in GREA and Rendeavour’s strategic cooperation, which includes commercial, warehouse, and logistics projects in Rendeavour’s new towns in East and West Africa.

April 2023

The last phase of Kijani Ridge’s infrastructure was completed by Tatu City

The last phase of Kijani Ridge’s infrastructure was recently completed by Tatu City, and the entire development now has access to underground power, 24/7 water, and international standard tarmac roads.

With a 79-acre park at its centre, Kijani Ridge is just minutes away from Tatu Central, Tatu City’s business and entertainment hub, as well as the renowned Crawford International and Nova Pioneer schools. The fully serviced 1/4- and 1/2-acre plots at Kijani Ridge have a starting price of KES 28 million and a flexible payment structure of up to 24 months.

Features and amenities built under this phase 

Some of the development’s features are a 6-kilometre tarmac road, 12-kilometre walkways, and a 5-kilometre subsurface stormwater network. Others that were built in the last 14 months include a 5 km water supply pipeline, 2.7 km sewer lines, 12 km of fibre optic cable, and 9.5 km of 11 kV medium voltage underground power lines.

It is a section of the last phase of the Kijani Ridge infrastructure that, when combined with home construction, would boost property values by 122% over the previous year.

According to David Karimi, Rendeavour’s Deputy Country Head and the owner as well as developer of Tatu City and six other city-scale projects in Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tatu City’s contemporary infrastructure and safe environment support property owners and businesses alike.

Investors have already purchased 90% of the project.

More features and amenities 

Tatu City’s more than 50 km of tarred roads, including the 6 km of new roads at Kijani Ridge, are all linked by a larger road network. In addition, Tatu offers 100 townhomes at Silver Hill by Unity Homes, 1,100 two- and three-bedroom apartments at Unity East and West, as well as 1,200 one-bedroom apartments at Unity One.

Tatu, Kenya’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in existence, is home to roughly 75 businesses, notably Dormans, and Copia. Others include Davis & Shirtliff, Kenya Wines Agencies Limited, the Grit Real Estate Income Group, CCI Global, Twiga Foods, Freight Forwarders Solutions, Cooper K-Brands, Friendship Group, and Freight Forwarders Solutions.

A zero VAT rating, a 10% import and corporate tax exemption for the first ten years, as well as a 15% exemption for the next ten years, are all benefits for firms operating in the SEZ.

Sep 2023

Unity Homes sign partnership agreement  with Absa Bank Kenya

A partnership agreement has been inked to allow potential home buyers to acquire houses in Tatu City under the affordable housing scheme. The agreement was signed between Unity Homes and Absa Bank Kenya.

As per the agreement, the lender will provide Kenya Mortgage Refinancing Company (KMRC) backed mortgages with terms of up to 25 years. Potential home buyers will be required to deposit 10 per cent of the housing unit value.

By so doing they will be able to buy a one-bedroom house for an average of Sh49,500 per month at a 9.5 per cent fixed interest rate for the first nine years. The price of the modern apartments at Tatu City starts at Sh5.95 million.

According to the executive director at Unity Homes Jason Horsey, the mortgage application is open to both salaried and self-employed Kenyans. The latter will have to present among others KRA PIN, bank statements, and business permits for consideration. The mortgage amount will be determined by the property price and what the applicant qualifies for.

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