Construction work at Two Rivers over in two weeks

Two Rivers complex in Ruaka

Kiambu-based Two Rivers, the largest lifestyle development on the continent outside of South Africa, is set for completion in two weeks.

According to Johann De Wet, Boogertman and Partners lead architect in charge of the project, the journey that began in 2013 is coming to an end with over 95 per cent of the work done.

The 100-acre project straddles the Northern Bypass and Limuru Road, Nairobi’s diplomatic Blue Zone and is named after two rivers – Giici and Rui Ruaka. The development is co-owned by Centum Group that controls a 58 per cent stake, AVIC International (38 per cent) and ICDC (14 per cent).

It is managed by Athena Properties Limited. There is still massive scaffolding on the exterior walls of the twin towers that will house both offices and residential apartments. Cranes are still lifting concrete and other materials to the higher floors. The roads appear muddy and unfinished.

The interior though paints a different story. Taking a huge chunk of the development is the retail section at 65,000 square metres while office space takes up 20,000 square metres. Most of the shops that will host international brands are almost ready for occupation.

The anchor tenant at the shopping mall is French retailer Carrefour, which operates more 12,000 outlets around the world. The retailer has already tested the local market through its presence at The Hub in Karen, Nairobi.

Then there is the Turkish luxury fashion line LC Wakiki that premiers in Nairobi as part of its plans to open 140 new stores outside of Turkey. Others that will form part of 150 retail and food outlets include Woolworths, Nike, Hugo Boss, and Mr Price. A number of these also operate in other top malls in the city such as Galleria, The Junction and Village Market.

The mall will also host a three-star and five-star hotels, the flagship being City Lodge with its 170-room hotel. According to De Wet, whose company has handled several other jobs from Centum, the construction of the mall was not a walk in the park.

“This area is a former coffee estate without amenities at all. Everything had to be installed from scratch. The rainy seasons in Kenya did not make it easier either working on the red soil,” says De Wet. Language barrier between De Wet, his team and the Chinese contractor was another challenge.

According to Felix Adoyo, the project manager, most of these are tenant driven and have not affected the pace of the project by a great extent. “A particular client would visit the site and suggest an additional aspect that would help improve the business,” says Adoyo.

The wide range of works at Two Rivers has attracted industry players who see it as a learning curve for the country’s built industry. Last week, the project hosted candidates from the Board for the Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors.