Companies

Tatu City’s investors ‘have Nema approval’

tatu city

A model of Tatu City. file

The construction of Tatu City’s real estate showpiece has been approved by the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), the developer said Thursday.

The announcement came amid shareholder disputes currently playing out in court and a determined media campaign by the promoters who have advertised several top management positions.

(Read: Setback for Tatu City cases after judge quits)

Tatu City, which will be built near Ruiru on the outskirts of Nairobi, is billed as one of the continent’s largest infrastructure projects, promoted by the Renaissance Group and Kenyan investors. Its construction is expected to have a major economic impact on Nairobi and its environs.

“Nema has issued Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence to Tatu City Ltd after a rigorous audit process beginning last year,” the firm said in a statement. 

This is one of the licences that Tatu has received so far ahead of the construction of the new city of 62,000 residents.

The Ruiru Municipal Council last year approved water and sewerage works.

Tatu City CEO Arnold Meyer said Nema’s approval underlined the environmental soundness of the project.

Nema started audits with a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) covering environmental policies for adherence during the whole development process.

The environmental watchdog made the approval in September last year. Tatu City investors said an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the first phase of development was later carried out and approval given late March.

The EIA licence covers Phase 1AA of the project covering about 3,000 residential units, 86,000 square meters of commercial official space, 31,000 square metres of retail floor space, public service transport interchanges, health facilities and recreational parks.
Tatu City promoters said the investment expected to generate 300,000 permanent jobs and an additional 220,000 temporary ones will also accommodate 30,000 day visitors.

The developers say it represents a new face of the African city of the future and its success or otherwise is being watched keenly by financiers, contractors and property buyers.