Tatu City, a pioneer for smart-city development in Africa

 Entrance to Tatu city, image source: https://www.rendeavour.com/ 

Introduction 

Tatu City is a new privately owned mixed-use development located in Ruiru, Kiambu County, just outside North-Eastern Nairobi County. It was started by Rendeavour, Africa’s largest city builder, and launched in 2010 with major changes starting in the early 2010s. According to their official website, the city is 5,000 acres in size and accommodates homes, schools such as Crawford International School, offices, shopping areas, and many other activities. They aim to house over 250,000 people of varying income levels, and so far, the city has been open for the last four years and is already home to over 5,000 people. It has attracted these large numbers through marketing itself as a city with a unique lifestyle that you cannot find anywhere else, as residents have all their needs within one place. Tatu city seems like a good example to other nations through its approach to sustainable development, accounting for environmental concerns, and economic diversification. 

Positive implications 

In terms of environmental sustainability, at its core, the city is designed to reduce congestion in Nairobi’s central urban and busiest areas because of its location. Since its construction, it has aimed to promote energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of sustainable and locally sourced building materials, according to Rishi Jatania, one of Tatu City’s partners. Examples include reducing energy consumption by 20% through using “efficient systems, renewable energy, and advanced HVAC and lighting” [Jatania, 2025]. Furthermore, water usage has been cut by 20% through “low-flow fixtures, water-saving appliances, and rainwater harvesting systems”[Jatania, 2025]. Additionally, the city has incorporated “construction processes that minimise waste, promoting recycling and reuse of materials” [Jatania, 2025]. All of this results in improvements in environmental sustainability efforts, and creates climate resistance against all types of weather, which align with Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals. 

What stands out in Tatu-city is its socio-economic approach. The city is privately owned, meaning that the developers can create their own rules so long as they fall under national law. Such rules include “construction standards, business operations, and traffic management” [Inside Kenya’s, 2025]. It also has extensive amenities, which include sports facilities, security measures, cultural buildings, a retail district, an activity sphere, and a hospital. Moreover, the area is a special economic zone, and already has nearly 90 businesses which employ 15,000 people, according to Adrian Bloomfield, AP news. This number will continue to grow, and their model supports this as the city’s tax incentives will attract many diverse businesses. Furthermore, the city has built lower-income homes such as “Unity” and “Karibu” homes that accommodate varying income levels to increase affordability, a problem that Nairobi deeply struggles with. 

Some of the homes that Tatu City has constructed, image source: https://www.rendeavour.com/

Negative implications 

However, like all developmental projects, Tatu City has had its share of challenges. Firstly, while the developers claim to have built affordable homes for Kenyans, the cost to buy these homes (Tatu and Karibu homes) is much higher than what the average Kenyan can afford. The average one-bedroom apartment starts from Ksh 6.1 million, while the average Kenyan makes between 30,000-250,000 per month across all sectors (The numbers vary between people living in and out of Nairobi). For families, the two and three bedroom apartments are even more costly at Ksh 10 million. This adds to the housing crisis that already exists in Kenya. Within Nairobi, over 2 million people live in informal settlements. Kibera informal settlement, for instance, is the largest of its kind in Africa. In today’s economic climate, these homes reflect the growing gap between the rich and the poor in Kenya, and shouldn’t be advertised as affordable if they only cater to one group of people. 

The development project has also faced different political issues, as last year, the head of the project, Preston Mendenhal “accused the governor of Kiambu county of extortion, saying he had demanded land worth $33 million in exchange for approving its updated master plan” [Adrian Bloomfield, 2025]. The governor then sued him and Tatu City for defamation. However, no ruling has been made. 

Next steps 

Tatu City truly has created a space that promotes economic growth, environmental sustainability, and improved quality of life. The city is definitely an example of what our government and other African nations can follow. However, there are valid criticisms to take into account, mostly around affordability for the average Kenyan, and how even private sector developments haven’t aided this problem. On the other hand, the government also needs to step up to actually build affordable, rent-controlled homes, and not just promise to do so. This will reduce the number of people living in informal settlements and increase the quality of living for Kenyans.