Artist’s impression of the US$5 billion Tatu City
Phase 1 of the long-awaited Tatu City project is ready to kick off following the Wednesday signing of a Sh262 million contract between the project owners and two construction firms.
Tatu City Limited signed agreement documents between Gibb Africa and SS Mehta which were awarded the contract to develop Phase 1AA of the project.
Gibb Africa will be responsible for the detailed design and oversight of the enabling works contract and the detailed design for the main works, while SS Mehta will undertake the enabling work contract which comprises the bulk work earthworks for the road corridors.
The two companies were awarded the tender after a very competitive tendering process, according to Tatu City CEO Anorld Meyer.
“We assessed the competing firms in terms of finance and technical capability and the tender was awarded to Gibb Africa and SS Mehta,” Meyer told invited guests who attended the signing ceremony.
According to documents seen by reporters, the contract period for enabling works began on 17th April and is due for completion in October 2012.
Sitting on a 2,500-acre piece of land behind Kenyatta University in Kiambu County, about 15 km north-east of Nairobi, the $2.5 billion project involves construction of a new mix-use city of 62,000 residents.
“Phase 1 will include shopping malls, hotels and office blocks, and it will include construction of roads, electricity, water, sewerage and piped gas,” Meyer told reporters in an earlier press briefing.
The 11 phases of the Tatu City project is due for completion in 8 to eleven years depending on the market demand.
