The government has urged investors to prioritize vertical developments in Kiambu County to curb the rapid loss of agricultural land to residential construction.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industrialization Lee Kinyanjui made the call during a signing ceremony at Tatu City marking a foreign direct investment from Saudi Arabia’s Mabani Aljazeera Holding Group into the development of Jabali Towers, a multi-story twin residential project within the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Kinyanjui said fertile land in the county was disappearing at a fast rate under residential construction and that vertical housing was key to securing the country’s agricultural future.
“We have seen agricultural land previously being consumed at a very high rate by residential construction. So the more we go vertical, the more we are going to have land available for agriculture,” Kinyanjui said.
He said the twin tower project would support the country’s long term food security goals by preserving farming land.
“If you look at the development as I have been shown, I am sure it is going to help us in also addressing those other long term food security sort of challenges that would otherwise be there,” he said.
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Kinyanjui commended Tatu City management, led by Rendeavour Chief Executive Officer Stephen Jennings, for creating an investor friendly environment. He assured investors and residents of government support and security.
The equity entry of the Saudi firm, through its unit Swan Properties, marks a notable Gulf investment in Kenya’s Special Economic Zones. The Jabali Towers development, featuring 25 and 36 storey residential blocks, is expected to create about 700 direct construction jobs.
Kenya Investment Authority CEO John Mwendwa said the agency remained committed to supporting investors through their project lifecycles. He said Kenya Investment Authority would remain a partner to investors, working with them all the way.
By Benedict Aoya
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