The concept of shopping malls has caught on in Kenya and developers are quickly identifying areas with potential. But many of these malls have been in the capital city, Nairobi. However, a few investors have decided to move out and take the mall experience to smaller but potentially lucrative towns as is the case with Nanyuki’s Cedar Mall.
Nanyuki, an urban centre in the County of Laikipia on the slopes of Mt Kenya, will soon be home to a major shopping mall, bringing to the town a new shopping and entertainment experience. It will be a welcome development by the residents of the town, many of whom own huge farms, ranches and businesses there.
Nanyuki is particularly an ideal place for a modern shopping mall and the developer appears to have carefully thought out the investment. Not only is the town home to a large number of third generation British settlers but the British Army and Kenya Airforce have bases here. Nanyuki has also lately witnessed a growing middle class not to mention a sizeable number of affluent locals who live and work in other towns but retreat to Nanyuki for their holidays. In addition, the town is widely visited by mountain climbers and nature enthusiasts, making the proposed mall potentially good news to all.
Cedar Mall, as it will be known, is to be constructed in two phases and will eventually occupy 18,000 square metres. Phase I of the shopping centre will consist of over 12,000 square metres of the highest quality retail space.
Designed by renowned architect Bowman Associates to international standards, Phase I will consist of a major national supermarket, coffee shops, fashionable line shops, restaurants and a food court all catered to by almost 300 parking spaces. The second floor of the shopping centre will provide a terrace bar and a boutique offering of office suites all with stunning views of Mount Kenya. Cedar Mall, which will be the largest shopping mall in Laikipia upon completion of Phase I, is all about experience, leisure and lifestyle and is a place where people of all ages can spend the day enjoying multiple services under one roof.
The mall is partly owned, through Cedar Mall Limited, by Kiloran Development Group LLP, an investment vehicle of British nationals who have previously undertaken real estate projects abroad. Cedar Mall is their first property development in Kenya. Kiloran has invested in the project, the first Phase of which is estimated to cost KES 1.3 billion, and is managing the development.
Groundbreaking took place at the end of March this year and the project is expected to be handed over in September 2016.
Kiloran has stated that all possible considerations have been made to make the building energy sufficient and sustainable with a positive impact on the surrounding environment.
Cedar Mall Quick Facts
Area
Gross Area (Phase I) – 12,000 SqM
Schedule of Lettable Areas (Phase I)
Ground Floor: 5,998 SqM
First Floor: 2,442 SqM
Second Floor: 1,109 SqM
Gross Lettable Area:Phase I – 9,549 SqM
What to expect:
Retail & Office Space
Food Court, Terrace Bar & Restaurants
2, 21pax Passenger Lifts
2 Escalators
Standby Generator
Secure Parking
24 hour Security
High-Speed Internet
Project Team
Client: Cedar Mall Limited
Architect: Bowman Associates
Quantity Surveyor: YMR Partnership
Engineers: Civil Engineering Design
M&E: Bosch East Africa
Main Contractor:Esteel Construction Limited
Leasing & Managing Agents: Knight Frank
