Artist’s impression of the US$5 billion city
The multi-billion Tatu City project has been sanctioned by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) following a satisfactory Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) survey on the land as per the proposed master plan.
The SEA survey is a comprehensive exercise that includes an extensive survey of the site’s environment which includes the socio-economic, demographic and natural resources features.
It evaluates the impact of the planned project on the environment, and reviews how project developers plan to manage potential environmental risks.
According to Nema’s Director General Dr Ayub Macharia, the Tatu City project had to go through rigorous environmental checks and balances to ensure that the eco-system was protected.
“We are impressed by the level of professionalism and global best practice Tatu City has demonstrated in developing the 10-phased master plan,” he said.
Following Nema’s approval, the project owners will now submit the environmental impact assessment surveys to the Authority for all the phases of the project ahead of the ground breaking for Phase 1 later this year or early 2012.
The US$2.5 billion project involves the construction of a mix-use new city on a 2,500-acre piece of land in Kiambu County- estimated to host 62,000 residents.
The project, the biggest of its kind in the region, is 50 per cent owned by the Renaissance Capital of Russia while the remaining shares are held by several foreign and local investors led by former CBK governor Nahashon Nyaga.
Capita Symonds, a UK-based multidisciplinary consultancy was recently appointed Programme Delivery Partner for the mega-project.
The first occupants of the new city are expected to move into the high density units by end of 2013, with commercial and retail operations set to begin early 2014.
