As the need for quality and affordable living spaces grows in the country, developers are addressing the existing deficit through innovative high-density residential developments. In Kisumu, LAPFUND is constructing the first modern gated residential community through its vast housing project in the city – Makasembo.
Kisumu is often cited as the most livable city in Kenya. With its clean, well-maintained roads and streets backed by a sense of order across the lakeside city, many commentators have rated Kisumu highly, with credit repeatedly going to the County Government.
Kisumu has seen tremendous growth in public facilities and infrastructure, attributed to a visionary County leadership that prioritizes development and is adept at lobbying the National Government for intervention whenever necessary. The hosting of major events such as the AFRI Cities Summit in 2022 and the ongoing campaigns for it to be one of the host cities for the AFCON 2027 football tournament have helped reinforce the Kisumu brand.
As the quest for decent housing gathers steam throughout the country, majorly being driven by the Central Government’s agenda of affordable housing, Kisumu has not been left behind. However, unlike in Nairobi where the concept of self-contained gated communities is common place, it is only now that this otherwise progressive city is witnessing the first such project through LAPFUND’s Makasembo Housing Project.
LAPFUND, a retirement benefits scheme that draws membership largely from County Governments and Water Companies, has embarked on a massive development consisting of more than 2,000 apartments at Makasembo area in the heart of Kisumu City. LAPFUND’s other housing investments include LAPFUND Gardens in Lukenya off Mombasa Road (completed) as well as Bellevue Park in South C, Nairobi (ongoing).
Makasembo is set to transform Kisumu’s housing landscape with its well-planned layout, different sizes and categories of houses to suit different budgets and a host of amenities included in the development. When complete, Makasembo will be one of the largest residential developments in Kenya.
Designed by a leading Nairobi Architectural firm, Aaki Consultants, the project is being implemented in phases with Phase 1 currently at an advanced stage and set for completion by the end of this year.
According to Harriet Kuria, Director, Southfront Properties which is the company handling sales and marketing for Makasembo, the housing project will change the face of Kisumu.
Besides creating jobs and supporting local businesses, Harriet reckons the Makasembo project will give the location a major facelift, noting that this is the first development of its kind in the city.
“It is a well-organized gated community featuring paved spaces, a kindergarten, children’s play area, ample parking, commercial spaces and a steady supply of water through boreholes,” she says. “Makasembo is setting the standards in Kisumu.”
Harriet says the County Government of Kisumu has been very supportive of the project, with the governor personally taking a keen interest in its progress. “Professor Nyong’o (Kisumu Governor) asks for and receives regular updates on the status of the project and has even made site visits.”
She adds that a major factor in favour of this project is that unlike many other residential developments where a developer tries to sell off-plan in order to raise the money to advance a project, LAPFUND has already availed the funds for Makasembo meaning that construction will continue uninterrupted.
“This means we are going to deliver this project on time”, says Harriet.
What does Makasembo Entail?
Makasembo is a low and medium-cost housing project set out on approximately 11 acres piece of land, right in the heart of Kisumu City near the Moi Stadium and Kisumu Polytechnic. The land where Makasembo is located was previously occupied by a few, old County Council bungalow houses. The existing residents were relocated and compensated, in order to facilitate the creation of a modern affordable housing development in line with the Kenyan Government development agenda, that could accommodate more homeowners, and with the re-located residents assured of first priority in purchasing the new houses.
According to Project Architects – AAKI Consultants, the client’s brief was firstly for the project consultants to carry out feasibility studies and advise of ways to make better use of this underutilized piece of land at the heart of Kisumu City, in order to realize good returns on investment.
The feasibility studies informed that an affordable housing project would be successful and fetch good returns on investment. Upon approval by the Client, the consortium team, led by Aaki Consultants, under the leadership of Architect Francis Gitau Mungai and Architect Kariuki Muraya, embarked on the designs for the Makasembo low-cost housing project. The team, having already been involved in design and implementation similar projects (most recently 872 low-cost units at Kisaju-Kajiado for Mwalimu National Sacco), understood exactly what was required of the project.
The project broke ground in June 2022.
Makasembo housing project consists of 4 blocks of low-cost housing and 2 blocks of medium-cost housing units rising to between 10 and 11 floors. Each of the blocks has 2 levels of parking, i.e., ground floor and semibasement level and has adequate high-speed lifts. The design is in such a way that the sub-basement parking is slightly elevated from the ground level thus allowing for openings which aid in natural ventilation and daylighting. Besides the parking, the ground floors of each block also have conveniently located commercial areas to cater for the needs of the house occupants. Each block will have roof terrace area to be used as clothes drying yard as well as offering areas for roof water tanks and magnificent views of Kisumu City and its surrounding. Additionally, each of the medium-cost units will be served with solar heated water in kitchens and bathrooms.
In terms of finishes, external walls and internal walls will be plastered and painted, the units’ floors will be finished with ceramic floor tiles and ceramic wall tiles in wet areas while the staircases and high traffic areas will be finished in terrazzo, which is a hard wearing floor finish.
In addition to the housing units and commercial areas, Makasembo will also have a daycare centre and a nursery school for the use of the residents and public. The estate is also served with two high-yielding boreholes, capacity underground and roof storage tanks as well as solar powered street lights. With a ground coverage of just about 40% for houses, roads and parking areas, 60% of the rest of the grounds area is well landscaped, with designated play grounds areas.
Phase 1 of the project is currently at an advanced stage and is expected to be complete at the end of this year. Phase 2 and 3 of the projects are expected to commence this year and are expected to be ready for occupation by 2026”, says Architect Douglas Mugo of AAKI Consultants.
So far, the project has run smoothly albeit a few challenges which are normal and manageable. Arch. Mugo attributes this situation to the synergy among all the members of the project team and all involved stakeholders.
One of the challenges that the team has faced is the situation of rising of the exchange rates between Kenya Shilling and foreign currencies which has had a negative impact on the cost of goods and materials. “Procuring materials and labour for a project of this magnitude has also been a challenge since not everything is available in Kisumu”, he says. “Some materials and skilled labour have to be brought in from other counties to supplement local availability.” It was however the project team’s wish that locally available materials and labour should be used on the project.
When complete, Makasembo housing estate will consist of more than 2000 houses of 1,2 and 3-bedroom typologies but differentiated through size, design features and pricing.
Low-cost Units:
- 1-bedroom units measuring 30 square meters
- 2-bedroom units measuring 45 square meters
- 3-bedroom units measuring 80 square meters
Medium-cost Units:
- 2-bedroom Standard units measuring 60 square meters
- 2-bedroom Premium units measuring 80 square meters
- 3-bedroom units measuring 80 square meters
“The uptake has been amazing”, says Harriet Kuria, who is in charge of Sales and Marketing. “We sold an entire block of the low-cost apartments, in just eight months”, she says. There has been immense interest from the market with buyers snapping up the units to live in or use as investment. A significant portion of customers are also coming from the diaspora, reveals Harriet. “We even got a client from as far as Korea”, she discloses.
“A number of those buying the units are former residents of Makasembo and are doing so partly because of sentimental attachment to the area.” Other buyers include organized groups such as Chamas.
Harriet stresses that the houses are available to anyone who wishes to purchase and are not reserved for any particular group or government employees. The showhouses of the different typologies are ready and Harriet assures that what potential buyers see in the showhouse is what they can expect. “With us, what you see is what you get,” she says. The terms of payment are flexible and are available from the selling agents.
PROJECT TEAM
CLIENT: LAPFUND
CONSULTANTS
Architects: AAKI Consultants
Quantity Surveyors: Quantyman Associates Ltd
Electrical & Mechanical Engineers: Norkun Intakes Limited
Civil & Structural Engineers: Professional Consultants Limited
Landscape Architects: Lariak Landscapes Limited
Sales and Marketing: Southfront Properties Limited
EIA Experts: Hope Urban Environmental
CONTRACTORS
Main Contractor: Kisumu Concrete Products Ltd
Electrical, Generator Supply and Installation Subcontractors: Central Electricals International Ltd
Plumbing, Drainage and Fire Fighting: Aqualine Plumbing Limited
Borehole Drilling and Equipping Subcontractors: Aqualine Plumbing Limited
Lifts Supply and Installation Subcontractors: Skymax Elevators Ltd
ABOUT THE ARCHITECTS – AAKI CONSULTANTS
AAKI Consultants is one of Kenya’s leading architectural firms. It is based in Westlands, Nairobi, and has vast experience in East Africa. AAKI Consultants offers services in Architectural Design, Project Management, Urban Planning, Feasibility Studies and Financial Analysis both for public and private organizations.
For the over 30 years that it has been in existence, AAKI Consultants has championed a sustainable approach to design through various projects, ranging from Urban Masterplans, Office Blocks, Hospitality and Housing Projects, Educational, Religious, Financial, Civic and Cultural Buildings, Health Care Projects, Individual Homes and various Interior Design projects. This has emanated from the effective leadership of the firm’s partners Arch. Francis Gitau Mungai and Arch. Stephen Muraya Kariuki, who have over the years built a synergistic relationship with the Technical and Administrative staff.
Some of their notable projects include: The Iconic Kenya National Library, Library for East Africa School of Aviation (EASA), Enashipai Resort and Spa, Lake Naivasha Resort, Glee Hotel – Nairobi, City Cabanas, Doctors Plaza, CIC Plaza, Mayfair Centre, Kenya Police Sacco Headquarters, One Padmore Place (JKUAT-SRBS) Office Block and Headquarters for Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA). Others are National Intelligence Academy, South Eastern University of Kenya (SEKU) – Kitui Town Campus, Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) – South C, Makasembo Housing Project for LAPFUND, Mwalimu National Housing Scheme in Kisaju, Apartments for BRITAM, Hazina Close Milimani Apartments for NSSF, Various branches of Family Bank, Cooperative Bank and various Religious Institutions among many others.
ABOUT THE MAIN CONTRACTOR – KISUMU CONCRETE PRODUCTS LIMITED
Kisumu Concrete Products Limited is one of the best-known companies operating from the western city of Kisumu.
A giant in the construction industry, the company offers a wide range of precast concrete products, serving the needs of all types of building contractors. With a dedicated concrete laboratory and wide range of equipment including quarry machinery, Kisumu Concrete Products Limited leverages not only on these important assets but also on exemplary customer service that sees customers seeking its products repeatedly.
The company’s vision is to be a one-stop shop/supplier of premium concrete products. The company also has a large fleet of trucks ensuring timely supply of materials to mega projects in the region.
Since Kisumu Concrete Products was established in 1978, it has achieved tremendous growth and has been involved in supply of construction materials and services to numerous projects in the region. Among them are Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, the CFAO Motors Kenya Mega Showroom Kisumu, Lake Basin Mall, Kisumu Port, Kakamega Hill School, West End Mall, and many others.
As the main contractor for the LAPFUND Makasembo housing project, the award-winning Kisumu Concrete Products Limited will use its extensive experience in the construction industry as well as excellent relations with its partners to deliver the project to the best of customer expectations, and to maintain its reputation as one of the leading players in the construction industry in Kenya.
Read entire issue https://issuu.com/constructionkenyashowcase/docs/cks_january-march_2024
