Tatu City, a major foreign investor in Kenya, condemned Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi and and CEC Member Salome Wainaina for attempting to extort Sh4.3 billion (USD 33 million) in land.

Tatu City is owned and developed by Rendeavour, Africa’s largest new city builder, with shareholders including investors from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Norway.

Wamatangi and Salome have held up the approval of Tatu City’s new Master Plan for more than a year and a half while he and county officials attempted to seize more than 40 acres of land, including Wamatangi’s residence.

“These individuals here have held up for more than a year and a half the approval of tatu city new master plan as they try to seize forty acres of land from Tatu city including land for Governor Wamatangi residence.” said Preston Mendenhall, Chief Operating Officer and Kenya Country Head at Rendeavour.

The value of the land that Governor Wamatangi is trying to seize from Tatu city is 4.3 billion sh and about 33 million USD.

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Updating the master plan

The update of the master plan is something that has to be done after three years in order to adapt the development of Tatu city to Kenyans dynamic market.

“Updating our master plan is something we have to do every 3 years; we make updates to our master plan to adapt the development of Tatu city to Kenyans dynamics market.” said Preston Mendenhall.

In June 2023, the National Director of Physical Planning placed a newspaper advertisement inviting more comments on the revised master plan. After 60 days passed without substantial feedback, the National Director of Physical Planning requested a letter of no objection from the Kiambu County government.

During this time, Salome Wainaina and her boss, Governor Wamatangi, tried to take over the national authority’s role and control the master plan approval themselves. They used this as an opportunity to extort Tatu City.

“This is also where Salome Wainaina and her boss Governor Wamatangi they sought to usurp the National Authority and control the master plan approval themselves and used it as an opportunity to extort Tatu city.” Shared Preston Mendenhall.

Tatu City called on Wamatangi, who has no formal role in the Master Plan approval process, to stop meddling in land planning and investment matters, and for CEC to issue a no objection letter to the revised Master Plan.

Tatu city a special economic zone that has created jobs.

Since 2021, a pioneering Special Economic Zone has created more than 20,000 jobs. This significant achievement highlights the zone’s impact on the local economy and its role in fostering employment opportunities.

The new city is home to more than 2,000 affordable and mid-income apartments. Additionally, it hosts public and private schools with 6,000 students, as well as 82 businesses, including leading Kenyan and international companies.