Synohydro, a Chinese state-owned hydropower engineering and construction company, recently signed a partnership agreement with Seascan Development Limited for the development of the MOWLEM Housing Scheme, Kenya’s First Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Project.
The project, which includes the construction of a total of 4,900 affordable housing units comprising well-designed studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units, plus a commercial block and other social amenities, according to the State Department of Housing and Urban Development – Kenya will be developed in Mowlem Ward, Embakasi West constituency, Nairobi.
Execution of the MOWLEM Housing Scheme
According to Mr. Charles Hinga Mwaura, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Housing and Urban Development of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development of Kenya, the MOWLEM Housing Scheme will be carried out in phases at a cost close to US$ 158.5M.
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The first phase, which is set to begin in April this year, will see the delivery of a total of 1,200 units while phase two three will respectively see the construction of 2,000 and 1,700 units.
“This development is of great interest to us because it will be the first of what we call transit-oriented development in Kenya,” said Mr. Hinga during the signing of the deal adding that TODs, which are quite popular in China, are high-density estates that are closely integrated with mass transit systems to promoting the use of public transport.
The MOWLEM Housing Scheme will be linked to the Dandora Commuter Rail Station.
The East African country hopes to use the project as the launchpad for similar schemes in the city in a bid to expose citizens to affordable houses and easy access to rail transport.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH SYNOHYDRO WITH A VIEW TO PARTNERING WITH OUR COMPANY: BILWALID PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED TO BUILD 10,000 HOUSING UNITS FOR GOVRNMENT EMPLOYEES ,
This is great news! TOD (Transport Oriented Development) is the best way for developing cities and towns using mass transport systems (Bus/BRT and rail) saving agricultural land near cities and towns. This is my observation as a transport and town planner for life (UEA?DEV 1975-78) living in Pretoria.