We all agree there is a lot of work going on in Upperhill, Nairobi. With many blue chip companies having bought land; they are now building with quite a pace never seen before. Once one plot has been cleared of the glorious trees and natural vegetation, the development then takes off and seems to go on night and day.
It is interesting that this area houses most of the major banks new buildings, embassies and insurance firms as well. There seems to be an un-named vybe that attracts multinationals and investors to this area. As Kenyan contractors and the many youth who work in these development spaces we welcome this. And silently pray that after completion we will see the multitude akin to the Teachers Service Commission building along Kenya Road visitors (that are known to fill the building overflowing to the street) be employed.
My plea to the developers and investors is to try and preserve the glorious tree cover and natural vegetation. That planting of trees and vegetation after completion of projects be taken as a rule. The Late Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathaai’s rule “plant two trees for each cut down” should be employed.
It is true the glorious tree cover in Nairobi not only gives the city a cooler atmosphere but also has very strong implication to our oxygen, water catchment among many other environmental benefits. I beseech the government, Contractors Associations, Architects Association of Kenya, Nairobi Business Association, civil society and the entire private sector to sensitize the developers in this great cause. We do not want to have a Mau Scenario replayed here.
And could the Urban Roads Authority and Ministry of Roads encourage the contractor that has been doing Ragati Road for the last two-going three years to please complete it?
Lunani Joseph 