Hopes of residents of Abakik in Bangali Sub-County in Tana River are sky-high after a Canadian firm – ConKrite Cooperation – moved in to construct a massive Organic City in the semi-arid region of coastal Kenya.

The project seeks to integrate sustainable urban living with advanced agricultural practices – potentially transforming the area into a regional model for eco-friendly growth.

The city will incorporate residential, commercial and agricultural zones designed to create a self-sustaining community that aligns with both environmental and economic sustainability goals.

In July this year, Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana appointed members to the County Investment and Corporation Board and Municipality Board in anticipation of the start of the construction of the Organic City.

The formation of the two boards was to strengthen the county’s institutional capacity to attract investment and deliver better services, marking a step forward in Tana River’s quest for economic transformation.

According to the ConKrite Director Nicolas Val Delle, the project will cost Ksh39 billion ($301.4 million) and will run for 12 years. The company plans to build 25,000 homes for local residents.

“We are coming here to ensure that these people are getting the lifestyle that they deserve without having to be a money procurement city. There have been a lot of interactions and many meetings over the past four years, not only with the locals but also with the county government to tell them what the project is all about and how it will benefit them at the same time,” Val Delle said.

“The project is valued at Ksh39 billion ($301.4 million) right now for the first phase and it is supposed to be built in the next 12 years. We are supposed to build 25,000 homes and we will continue to expand as we continue the relationship with the local communities and if we are granted more land,” he added.

The construction of the city is expected to generate substantial employment openings, particularly for the youth and women, while also enhancing the county’s agricultural output. It will also set the stage for global recognition, tourism, research and investment in the county.

The groundwork for the organic city has already been laid in Abakik village. The project seeks to integrate sustainable urban living with advanced agricultural practices, potentially transforming the area into a regional model for eco-friendly growth.

Nicolas Val Delle, a director at the ConKrite Corporation during a press briefing after the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Organic City in Abakik village, yesterday. He said the project would cost Sh39 billion in the next 12 years.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Erick Kyalo