Syokimau booms despite poor infrastructure

An artist’s impression of El-Oasis Park. [PHOTOS: COURTESY / STANDARD]

Syokimau in Machakos County continues to attract real estate developments despite poor infrastructure.

El-Oasis Park is one of the latest developments in the area.

Located one kilometre off the Mombasa highway and adjacent to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the Sh2.2 billion project is being developed on five acres by Taurus Consortium Ltd.

It will be built in three phases, with phase one consisting of eight blocks of 80 three-bedroom apartments. Phase one will also include 16 blocks of two-bedroom all ensuite penthouses with servant quarters and an attic.

Construction started in July 2014 and is expected to be completed in December 2016.

“We will have a total of 300 units, which will have a metered gas system,” says Martin Muthengi, the Marketing Manager at Taurus Consortium Ltd.

He says the units will have open-plan kitchens, which will allow for family interaction during meal times.

Muthengi says the rooms will be spacious and will have large windows to allow in natural light hence saving on energy costs. A two-bedroom unit will go for Sh6.5 million while a three-bedroom one will sell for Sh7.5 million.

 Sewerage system

Syokimau is known for lack of a sewerage system but the Machakos County Government is already constructing a sewer line that will serve the estate.

However, El-Oasis Park will also construct their own sewer system, which could be connected to JKIA’s, according to Muthengi.

The new Gateway Mall will provide a retail area for the tenants in addition to the Uchumi at Syokimau Railway Station. Muthengi says the park will also have its own shops.

According to Alex Muema of Ndatani Enterprises, Syokimau is highly accessible due to Mombasa Road and the new Mlolongo-Katani-Utawala roads.

“The Machakos County Government is doing a good job. For instance, it has tarmacked some roads in the area and is paving access roads. Water from Athi Water Services is now available in the area.  Before only borehole water was available,” says Muema.

Security in the area, he says, has been improved, with the county government having established a police station.

“Controlled development by the county government, which has deterred haphazard development, is also an attraction,” says Muema.

 Land prices

Land prices have also risen. Land measuring 50 by 100ft used to go for Sh1 million five years ago, but if now fetching at least Sh2.5 million.

“The same size of land on the border of Syokimau and Katani was going for Sh500,000 five years ago. It is now Sh2.5 million,” says Muema.

One of the challenges for the new development is the dusty Syokimau-Airport road, which gets muddy when it rains.

Machakos County Government’s Executive for Housing George Luka Kioko says it is among the access roads earmarked for tarmacking.