NMS to construct 62,000 apartments in Eastlands

Housing in Nairobi

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) is set to put up about 62,000 high-rise rent or buy affordable housing units in Eastlands in the second phase of Nairobi Housing Urban Renewal programme.

As part of the project, the Major General Mohammed Badi-led NMS has identified 10 old county government estates for the public-private partnership project.

The apartments will consist of between six and 16 storied buildings of either three, two or one-bedroom units.

The old estates earmarked for redevelopment and renewal include Bahati, Maringo, Jericho, Lumumba, Bondeni, Ziwani, Embakasi, California, Kariobangi North and Woodley.

Most of the identified estates are in a poor state characterised by low-rise housing units occupying large chunks of land.

NMS Deputy Director General Kang’ethe Thuku said the project is aimed at providing accessible and adequate low cost housing with reasonable standards of sanitation.

“This is the second phase of the affordable housing delivery programme which aims at improving the quality of social-economic life of residents,” said Mr Thuku.

Consequently, NMS has called for expression of interest (EOI) from development partners from the banking industry, pension funds and schemes, real estate and other investors for a joint venture partnership.

The Bahati Estate project will see the building of 12,000 high-density storied buildings of between six and 16 floors consisting of three, two and one-bedroom units to replace bungalows sitting in the 20.4 hectares estate.

Another 10,000 units will be constructed in Lumumba Estate; 8,000 units in Maringo Estate; Kariobangi North Estate will have 1,500 units; Embakasi Estate 4,000 units, Bondeni 774 units; California 2500 units and Woodley Estate 6,000 units while Ziwani Estate will 4,782 units but comprising of eight storey apartments.

Mr Thuku pointed out that firms will only be short-listed for participation after demonstrating technical and financial capabilities in response to the requirements for the project contained in the request for proposal document, which will be circulated to only short-listed firms upon evaluation of their submissions. BD