Ballooning Nairobi Population to Put More Pressure on Infrastructure

Nairobi’s population is predicted to soar to a high of 7 million people by the year 2030, according to a World Bank’s report.

Speaking to members of the Kenya Association of Manufactures, Rendeavour’s Country Head for Kenya Nick Langford said this growth is expected to exert greater pressure on transport and other infrastructure, which is already struggling to cope with its current patronage.

“At the current rate of growth, Nairobi is under resourced for further urbanisation,” said Langford. “Already, the city is witnessing massive traffic congestion, insecurity, shortage of clean water, inefficient urban structure, and mismatch between the rate of urban growth & infrastructure development, among other infrastructure related issues,”

Langford noted that what the city needed was an integrated road network, enhancement of public transport system, policy on new land use plan, strengthening of linkage between the CBD and sub centers, and promotion of sustainable development through mixed-use developments.

“And these amenities are what we are offering at Tatu City, which members of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and other industrialists can take advantage of,” Langford said.

Also addressing the members of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and infrastructure Eng. John Musonik said there is substantial scope for the private sector to get involved.

“It is clear that the private sector has a significant role to play in the infrastructure rollout in partnership with the State,” Musonik said. “To co-ordinate and promote public-private partnership, the government has developed a private sector participation framework that guides the investment by the private sector.”

Already, Rendeavour has set aside Ksh2.2 billion ($22 million) for infrastructure development at Tatu City, ahead of rolling out major residential and industrial projects in July this year.

Thirteen companies have bought land at Tatu Industrial Park including Dormans Ltd, Kim-Fay East Africa Ltd, Maiden Lane, Bidco, and Unilever.