AfriPulse
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has unveiled plans to transform 1,000 acres of land in Mavoko near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) into a smart city development.
From a tender document seen by Kenyans.co.ke , the development will blend residential, commercial, industrial, and hospitality spaces into one connected neighbourhood.
NSSF wants the new city to embrace what planners call a “15-minute city” concept, where residents can access homes, jobs, and amenities without long commutes.
“The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) invites sealed bids from interested tenderers for the Request for Proposals for the development of a feasibility study, master plan, infrastructure & pilot-phase development for the proposed NSSF Mavoko City in Mavoko, Machakos County through an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing Contract,” stated the document in part.
An aerial view of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi County.
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KAA
The site will also host specialised warehousing and institutional facilities, depending on what feasibility studies from related environmental and construction bodies eventually recommend.
Developers are expected to incorporate green building practices and smart technology that reduce the project’s carbon footprint over time in a bid to champion the Sustainability aspect of the ambitious plan.
The master plan also factors in vulnerable groups, with facilities designed for the elderly, children, and people living with disabilities.
Mavoko is strategically placed near Nairobi, improving transport links and proximity to emerging economic nodes such as Konza City, making the site preferable for mixed-use development.
To initiate the project, a starter phase will kick off first, acting as a proof of concept before the rest of the land gets developed in stages to allow market demand to guide further infrastructure rollout.
The tender NSSF has formally opened bidding for a partner to handle engineering, procurement, construction, and financing for the entire project, whose deadline is July 17.
This project comes at a pivotal time, when JKIA is also expected to be modernised and upgraded in a Ksh154.2 billion plan through a contract with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) in a 36-month plan.
Once the city is complete, the smart city will join other similar projects, such as Konza Smart City and Tatu City, meant to spearhead the country into a new dimension of city planning and development.
Interior CS, Kipchumba Murkomen, and other government officials tour Konza Technopolis, a smart city still under construction, on December 2, 2024.
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KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H
Source: Kenyans.co.ke | Read the Full Story…
