Kenya’s Kericho town is popular for its green, plush tea fields. But from today, it will for the first time begin to transform its countryside look by introducing a tech-savvy shopping mall that would cater for its one million residents tired of relying on retail shops and small hotels while slowly fulfilling Kenya’s dream of spurring the growth of ICT.
“We were keen on having a building that would change the face of Kericho while catering to the emerging middle class,” said the director of developer Green Square Mall, Chris Ng’eno. According to the developer, Kericho’s Green Square Mall will from 6 June 2014 begin the construction of a two-floor mall with a supermarket and more than 20 stores and restaurants, inclusive of CCTV cameras, internet connectivity on the Nairobi-Kisumu highway into the town.
As one of the most modern buildings in Kericho, designed by Team 2 Architects, the building would seemingly appeal to the residents who have had to travel to Nairobi to buy household items and enjoy a modern lifestyles, cafes and eateries far from their reach. Even more, it is likely to increase the Kenyan population with access to internet connectivity spurring the growth of ICT compliancy in Kenya.
The country in the near future plans to spend more than 25 per cent of its budget on ICT so as to improve the implementation of its programmes while enhance governance, reports say. With that in mind, the World Bank in March 2014 approved Sh1.3 billion to finance the implementation of ICT programs in the next few years.
The new mall, concur developers, is expected to add to the growth of ICT through the use of technology such as CCTV cameras and internet connectivity, as it is expected to employ over 200 workers during construction while provide jobs upon completion, perhaps inspiring youth to be more ICT compliant.
The project managers are Limojade Management Ltd who were behind Sahara Ridge Estate in Ruiru and are currently managing 717 Brookside Apartments in Westlands, Riversedge in Redhill among other projects in Nairobi. Nakumatt Supermarket will be the anchor tenants of the shopping mall while Dunhill Consulting who are involved with the Thika Road Mall will be the letting agents. Moreover, the development is also expected to spur the real estate industry in the area, which is currently at an infant stage. There is high demand for commercial buildings and housing by both residents and companies setting up in the county.
“The Kericho County has put in place measures to make the area a conducive environment for investors,” said Mr. Birech C.E.C -Trade, Industrialization, Co-operative Management, Tourism and Wildlife.
Funded by KCB, the KSh.500 million project is expected to take 18 months to complete. It is expected to employ over 200 workers during construction and provide hundreds of jobs upon completion, in addition to spurring the growth of ICT in the country.