This archive report was first published on 7 December 2019.
On a vast 11,576-acre farm in Ruiru, Kiambu County, the Kenyatta family is taking a significant step towards realizing its ambitious plan to build a Sh500 billion city.
Northlands, as the project is known, is expected to be one of the largest developments in the country, with a population of 250,000 people. The project, which was submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) late last year, will be developed in four phases over a period of 50 years.
The farm, which is currently occupied by Brookside Dairies, will be transformed into a mixed-use development with low-to-high income residential areas, commercial space, a central business district, schools, an industrial area, and an agricultural zone.
According to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report, the different zones will support a population of 250,000 people. The report highlights the strategic location of the project near central Nairobi and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as major advantages for those seeking to live or conduct business there.
“Whilst a key focus will be to meet the needs of the emerging middle class, different areas will cater for older couples, families, and young professionals,” the report says.
“Areas of lower cost housing will also be provided to meet the needs of low-income earners and prevent the emergence of unplanned slum areas.”
The project will have a high-density residential area with blocks of flats having 6,980 housing units and 3,100 townhouses. A business district will be located near Kenyatta University and the Thika superhighway, with 33 acres set aside for a mall/hotel and two acres for a clubhouse.
The planners of the city have also set aside 695 acres for an industrial park, 650 acres for a logistics park, and 1,697 acres for open recreational space, including 266 acres of water features.
However, the biggest portion of the land – 5,156 acres – has been reserved for wildlife conservation and agriculture, with Gicheha Farm, which keeps large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, as the main occupant.
The SEA report highlights concern over the project’s possible impact on human and vehicular movement in the area, citing the expected intense pressure on the Eastern bypass and Thika superhighway.
“The projected total daily vehicular trips to and from the development to the west (Thika Road) is given as up to 27,324 at the end of phase 3 while to the East (eastern Bypass) is given as 30,010 vehicles per day at the end of phase 3,” the report says.
“These volumes are expected to have a considerable impact on the traffic flow and capacity of the existing roads as well as adjacent intersections.”
