Local communities in Abakik, Bangali subounty in Tana River are set to benefit from houses through a work-home programme by a Canadian organisation.
Conkrite capital is building an
ambitious organic city in the area.
The once quiet small settlement
along the busy Garissa–Nairobi highway, where at least 150 community members,
who are mainly pastoralists, settled for pasture and water, is now busy with
heavy-duty machinery, clearing the bushes and laying the foundation for the
CEO Nicolas Del Valle said the city
will incorporate residential, commercial and agricultural zones to create a
self-sustaining community that aligns with environmental and economic
sustainability goals.
Eco-homes, vocational training centres, renewable-energy facilities and regenerative farms will anchor the development that will give Abakik village a complete facelift,
The project seeks to turn what was once a drought-stricken settlement into a centre of green innovation.
It will enable the locals to live on safe, elevated land, work within walking distance, earn income, build equity, own property, grow food and participate in a new local economy.
The Sh39 billion project, which has also received the backing of the Tana River government, is expected to provide employment opportunities for residents in the surrounding communities.
Part of their salaries would be channelled towards paying for house ownership.
“The locals will own homes here through what we call a work-home programme. They will be working in the construction of the new city and half of the proceeds of their work will go towards the ownership of the home,” Del Valle said.
“Just last night, we had a meeting with the Tana River government and we were able to agree that this project is moving at an aggressive speed and they are willing to double the resources so that we can double the number of houses from 25,000 to 50,000 in the next 12 years.”
He said this will help create many opportunities for the local people here who have been at risk of floods during the rainy seasons.
Del Valle said the houses will provide relief for most residents in Tana River county who have experienced perennial flooding, leaving them with countless losses every cycle.
“The objective of the organic city is not only to create a city that is completely organic but also to satisfy the demands of the local communities which is to house the people who are at risk of flooding,” he said.
Over the years, the Tana River county government has unsuccessfully tried to move people from flood-prone areas along River Tana to safe highlands.
Locals said while they are safe from floods in the highland areas, there are no job opportunities.
With the development and construction of the organic city and houses and employment opportunities, residents will now have a reason to permanently relocate from flood-prone areas.
This project aligns with Tana River government’s broader goals for sustainable development, building on initiatives like the Green Heart Initiative (GHI), which promotes private sector involvement in sustainable land use and resource management in the rich Tana River Delta.
