MoU signing ceremony attended by Centum CEO James Mworia, Dr. Chris Kirubi Centum Board Chair and Vision 2030 Acting Director General Prof. Gituro Wainaina
Nairobi, Kenya, Jan 27- Two Rivers development, a project of Centum Investments has been given the vision 2030 flagship project status. The project, which is touted to be the biggest shopping and lifestyle development in East and Central Africa, is located within a 102 acres piece of land in Nairobi’s diplomatic blue zone, Limuru road.
Two Rivers has been given the Vision 2030 flagship status partly due its sustainable approach to resource usage setting a new precedence in the region.
Speaking during a MoU signing ceremony attended by Vision 2030 Acting Director General Prof. Gituro Wainaina, Centum CEO James Mworia and Dr. Chris Kirubi Centum, Mworia said Two Rivers represents a new level of real estate in the region.
“We are going to change how retail, wholesale, real estate and mall business is done in the region,” said Mworia.
Two rivers mall by itself has planned a 2MW solar power production making it the largest rooftop concentration of solar panels in Africa.
“More than 80 percent of gray water will be recycled and treated to World Health Organization standards,” added Mworia.
Centum estimates 10,000 people will be employed at Two Rivers when it is complete, boosting the local economy.
As part of the promise to the economy of Kenya, the development is currently doing a technical skills transfer. This will ensure that Kenyans who are employed in the development of the mall will retain skills that are going to be key in ensuring that Vision 2030 is achieved.
“Through Vision 2030 we are spearheading the transformation of Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country providing a high quality of life to all its citizens and a clean and secure environment. Projects like Two Rivers are crucial steps in attaining our goals and we are pleased to collaborate in this venture,” Prof. Gituro Wainaina said. ,
The development seeks to be socially responsible. Up to that end, it has collaborated with Nairobi City County to rebuild Old Mathari Primary School.
“Two Rivers is nearing completion of the new school which is situated in Mathari. The school is scheduled to get more than 32 new classrooms, a dining hall, social hall, a library and a fully stocked computer lab,” explained Mworia.
The development will also integrate services such as waste management with Ruaka, Runda and Rosslyn and also provide a police post, emergency services, a fire brigade and healthcare facilities.
By 2020, the first phase of the Two Rivers Project, set on 55 acres, is expected to be complete. The first phase will contain the biggest retail, commercial and lifestyle centre in East and Central Africa. In addition, it will possess 3 and 5-star hotels, luxury apartments, office parks and world-class infrastructure.
The mall will have 66,000m2 of retail space and 22,000m2 of office space, making it the largest multi-purpose centre in Africa outside South Africa. The mall is scheduled to be opened in March 2016.
“This project proves that we have the capacity to tackle our own challenges such as unemployment and rapid urbanization. We all have an opportunity to be part of something great,” said Chris Kirubi, Two Rivers Board Chairman.
Infrastructure will include a 46MVA modular substation, a 1.3 MVA solar park, state of the art water treatment and roads. The development has also invested USD 10 million in smart city ICT infrastructure.