The Tanzanian government, through its National Social Security Fund (NSSF), is undertaking a significant investment project in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area.
This project involves the construction of a two-tower complex comprising 22 floors each. The complex will serve as the new location for Tanzania’s embassy in Kenya, as well as provide residences and office rental units.
The primary objective of this investment is to generate foreign currency for Tanzania while also reducing government rental expenses associated with the embassy and housing for embassy staff.
The ground-breaking ceremony for this ambitious project was attended by Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister, January Makamba, alongside his Kenyan counterpart, Musalia Mudavadi, demonstrating the collaborative effort between the two countries in this endeavor.
“We seek to use professional and world-class real estate entities to develop these assets to earn income for the government and uplift the quality of our embassies and embassy staff housing,” Makamba said.
The Nairobi project is part of the first phase of Tanzania’s long-term plan that will see it also erect similar properties in Kigali, Rwanda; Kinshasa in the DR Congo; London in the U.K.; New York in the U.S. and Zambia’s capital Lusaka.
On his part, Mudavadi termed the scheme a significant step in reinforcing Kenya’s diplomatic relations with its southern neighbour.
“As a government, we will work with all the planning agencies to give you support to avoid any bureaucracies that can delay the process,” Mudavadi added in a statement issued by his ministry.
Upper Hill, situated just 4 kilometers from Nairobi’s city center, has emerged as a bustling commercial district characterized by a surge in construction activities, particularly in the development of skyscrapers.
This area boasts luxury hotel chains like Sarova Panafric and Radisson Blu, houses foreign embassies such as the British High Commission, and serves as the regional headquarters for numerous multinational corporations and organizations, including Huawei, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Currently, the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi operates from Reinsurance Plaza in the city’s central business district.
However, with the construction of the new complex in Upper Hill, Tanzania aims to curb its significant rental expenses, which amount to approximately 29 billion shillings (about Ksh.1.4 billion) annually for embassy offices and staff housing.
(Ksh.1 = 20.23 Tanzania shillings)
