A few years ago Tatu City appeared to be a grand plan, well-conceived but difficult to implement. The initial adverse publicity that the proposed development received in the media did not help to allay fears of Kenyans, already wary of real estate developers, after losing money in some previous schemes.
Today, however, it is an entirely different picture. The massive 5,000 acre mixed-use development located in Ruiru, Kiambu County, is rapidly coming together. There is a beehive of activity all across the expansive site, with several businesses and schools already operational while some homeowners have settled in.
Living or working in planned developments is the dream of many. It eliminates the usual challenges that come with unplanned or barely planned settlements – mainly congestion, poor infrastructure, unreliable service from utility firms, insecurity and insufficient or even non-existent social amenities.
Tatu City was conceived to provide an attractive “live, work and play” environment where 150,000 people could enjoy a high quality of life away from the hustle and bustle of urban areas. The City was granted Special Economic Zone status by the government, meaning businesses can enjoy reduced taxes, duty exemptions, favourable capital and profit repatriation among other benefits.
Tatu City has so far attracted a vibrant mix of businesses and exclusive education facilities such as Nova Pioneer and Crawford International School. Management has deliberately restricted heavy industries from development in order to avoid environmental degradation.
One of the companies that have seized the opportunity to invest in Tatu City is Unity Homes Limited. A real estate developer established in 2014, Unity Homes has secured 23 acres in Tatu where it is putting up 1,100 affordable homes targeting investors and starter home customers. The company first ventured into real estate with a 250-unit residential development in Eldoret in 2015. The 3-bed duplexes and stand-alone bungalows sold out faster than expected, encouraging the company to make further forays in the sector.
At Tatu City, Unity Homes broke ground barely over a year ago. The developer had not only completed 96 of the 2-bedroom apartments at the time Construction Review visited, but had also welcomed the first residents, having handed over 48 units in August in an official ceremony graced by Her Excellency Ms. Jane Marriott, OBE, British High Commissioner to Kenya.
From right: Principal Secretary (PS) State Department of Housing And Urban Development Charles Hinga, Rt. Hon Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Stephen Mukolwe Head of Development at Unity Homes, Architect Charles Manduku, Jason Horsey CEO Unity Homes go through the plans during groundbreaking last year.
From right: Jane Marriott British High Commissioner to Kenya, Mrs. Rachel Kimuhu Homeowner, John Latham Executive Director Unity Homes
“Affordable homes in a secure environment is every Kenyan’s dream”, says Mr Stephen Mukolwe who is Head of Development at Unity Homes. “There has been a surge in uptake from buyers especially during the pandemic, due to the increased need for investing and securing a home for their future.” Prices range from USD 44,000- USD 60,000 depending on the internal configuration.
On visiting, the bustle at the site is evidence of accelerated construction. According to Mr Mukolwe, there are at least 400 workers spread out on the property. The company hopes to complete the first phase of 400 homes in 2021 while Phase 2 will commence in 2021 and is expected to be complete by 2024.
Mr Mukolwe attributes the speed of construction to the company’s decision to shift from regular block work to aluminium formwork where the entire structure including walls and slabs are concrete cast on site. “With formwork, we are completing an entire shell of a block in a record 10 days which works out to delivery of the shell of 1 house per day. We use high strength concrete and additives that allow shifting from one floor to the next in less than 5 days.” This technology is also convenient as it increases precision, quality and does not require plastering hence cutting down on construction cost.
“The technology and the finishes are a plus for us since the quality is unmatched, giving the homeowners more confidence in the product”.
Another factor that has worked in the developer’s favour is that the entire project’s team is in-house. Having a vast range of expertise within the team has reduced the time consumed in consultation with everyone reading from the same script.
Unity Homes has opted for a low-rise development distributed in small blocks of 12 units each as opposed to many developers who would ordinarily prefer high-rise apartments to maximize on returns. “We felt it was important to consider density per acre as well as the visual impact of the entire estate”, says Mr Mukolwe.
The three-storey block rows are separated by at least 19 metres consisting of colour-paved driveway, parking and green spaces. This deliberately functional yet inviting layout gives the development a harmonious spacious and fresh look. Mr. Mukolwe says he went for a minimalist design, avoiding too many design elements. Each unit has a plinth area of about 60 square meters installed with a thick Turkish high security steel door that opens into the well-lit living room with a French balcony on one side and an open plan kitchen on the other. The floors are finished with high quality wooden teak textured ceramic tiles. The contemporary style kitchen features polished granite tops, standard extractor hood, a breakfast bar and provision for a washing machine. Fitted in as well are strip lights and spotlights illuminating the space beautifully.
Mild steel casement windows were chosen that can be opened at any angle without use of stays. From the living room, one finds the shared bathroom consisting of a water closet, frameless glass shower screens, rain shower and a vanity. Next is the master bedroom and slightly ahead is the children’s room.
The gated community is accessed from Ruiru-Kamiti Road where one goes through security checks. Residents will use a card access system to access Unity West and even their own residential blocks. CCTV has also been integrated in the security system.
Low flow faucets and showerheads, solar lighting and solar water heating have been incorporated in the design to make the development as green as possible. They will also enjoy a blend of entertainment and relaxation amenities. From taking a plunge into the pool, to working up sweat at the state of the art resident gym. The estate will have a landscaped 2 acre community park with playgrounds and jogging tracks for both kids and adults to enjoy outdoor activities. The development faces a 35-acre nature reserve boasting of lavish fully grown trees where no development is allowed. This riparian land will be landscaped into a recreational forest reserve.
There is no doubt that that in the next few years, Unity West and the larger Tatu City will be a highly coveted community with a superior quality of life where residents can live their lives to the fullest.
Living room 
Bedroom 
Kitchen
