Hacienda Kenya – Africa’s first eco city
The design of the buildings will make best use of the sun, wind and rainfall to supply the energy and water
10/04/2009 – Construction of Kenya’s first environmentally, socially, economically and culturally self-sustaining residential settlement is well underway on the outskirts of Mombasa.
Going by the name Hacienda – a Spanish word meaning big homestead, the development, located in the Mwakirunge area of the North Coast, off the Mombasa-Malindi highway, will have 7,000 housing units – of 2- and 3 bedroom flats, and 3- and 4 bedroom bungalows.
At Hacienda, innovative green technology has consistently been applied in energy production and recycling. The project manager, Mr Shlomi Jerome says the unique plants that will grow in the wetlands will be used for biological treatment of wastewater. The water will be re-used in the households.
With each house requiring at least 2.5 kilowatts, there will be a solar and wind power station that will produce 12 megawatts. Each house will have pre-paid metre installed.
Mr David Muniu, a director at Hacienda Development Holdings says, “Hacienda has been designed to improve the image and function of Mombasa as a vibrant, modern and environmentally sustainable city in Africa.”
On the other hand, Hacienda Development Holdings – the developers of Hacienda – say the design of the buildings will make best use of the sun, wind and rainfall to supply the energy and water needs of the residents. The design of the project include the development of wetlands to harvest, biologically treat, and recycle runoff water for household use, a solar/wind power station and the planting of 10,000 trees.
The project will take four to five years to complete
Except for the first phase that will use electricity, the entire complex will use solar power and wind, thus conserving the environment.
According to Mr Muniu, the housing units are designed for both individual and corporate buyers, ideally as a housing scheme. For individual buyers, the project targets the middle- and upper- income brackets, through the various mortgage packages in the market.
“This development is one of a kind in Kenya,” says Mr Muniu, adding that for comfort, the houses will feature a distinct Coastal design meant to accommodate a “21st century modern lifestyle while at the same time fitting the hot and humid weather of the Coast.” The whole project sits on 500 acres and will take four to five years to complete.
Houses are selling at Sh1.5 million for a 1 bed-roomed unit and Sh2.5 million for a 2 bed-roomed unit. A 3 bed-roomed unit covering 40 square metres will go for Sh2.95 million while one sitting on 91 square metres will be Sh3.5 million.
A 4 bed-roomed house with a plinth area of 117 square metres will go for Sh4.5 million. Individual buyers will access up to 90 per cent financing, effectively placing the down payment to be footed by the buyer at 10 per cent.
