Business Bay Square (BBS) founder and real estate magnate Abdiweli Hassan has unveiled plans to develop a KES 65 billion mega project at Tatu City, marking one of the largest private real estate investments in Kenya’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The ambitious 60-acre development will include residential homes, retail spaces, offices, logistics facilities, and a mosque, signifying a strategic shift by one of the region’s leading developers from Nairobi’s city centre to the emerging suburban hub of Tatu City.
According to Mr Hassan, the project will deliver a “holistic community” designed to ease congestion and redefine urban living beyond the capital. “The future of development is moving beyond the city centre, where there’s space to build communities with everything people need; schools, offices, entertainment, shops, and extensive recreation,” he said. “Tatu City offers exactly that: a well-planned environment free from congestion and the hassles of commuting.”
The new development, spanning 60 acres, will feature high-quality residential units, commercial buildings, and 30 acres of parks and recreation areas. It will also include a petrol station, warehouses, and logistics facilities within Tatu Industrial Park. A mosque will be strategically located near homes and schools to serve the growing community.
The masterplan has a 10-year development timeline, with construction expected to commence within one year. Designs for the residential and commercial zones are already underway.
Hassan’s announcement signals growing investor confidence in Tatu City as a long-term alternative to Nairobi’s crowded urban core. The master-planned city, which is Kenya’s first operational Special Economic Zone, provides integrated residential, commercial, and light industrial spaces under a unified development framework.
Mr Hassan is best known for developing Business Bay Square Mall (BBS Mall) in Eastleigh, a transformative retail and entertainment hub that redefined perceptions of the area. The mall, which spans over 130,000 square metres with more than 1,000 shops and restaurants, is now the largest shopping complex in East and Central Africa.
“BBS Mall changed how people viewed Eastleigh, showing that thoughtful development can reshape neighbourhoods and improve how people live and work,” Mr Hassan said. “We now want to replicate that success in Tatu City on a larger scale.”
Tatu City has emerged as one of Kenya’s fastest-growing urban developments, attracting global and local investors alike. Positioned as a model for sustainable urbanisation, it provides world-class infrastructure, green spaces, and streamlined regulatory oversight for developers operating within its SEZ status.
The city is already home to several large-scale residential projects such as Jabali Towers, Porini Point, and Kijani Ridge, developed by Rendeavour, the owner of Tatu City. Other notable players include Unity Homes, which has completed and fully occupied 1,200 residential units at Unity West and Unity East. Additional projects like Unity One, Unity Parkside, and Silver Hill are currently underway.
Unlike many Nairobi neighbourhoods facing traffic congestion, inconsistent planning, and infrastructure strain, Tatu City offers a controlled environment with modern roads, reliable utilities, and green zoning standards. The new BBS development will further cement its status as a mixed-use urban hub balancing work, living, and leisure.
Analysts describe Mr Hassan’s Tatu City investment as a “vote of confidence” in Kenya’s real estate future. The move reflects a shift toward integrated, live-work-play communities, designed to meet the growing middle-class demand for modern, self-contained living spaces.
With its scale, location, and long-term vision, the KES 65 billion project is expected to generate thousands of jobs during construction and operation, while attracting complementary businesses such as schools, hospitals, and entertainment venues.
As Nairobi’s skyline continues to stretch beyond the city centre, a new wave of developers is redefining the meaning of modern urban living. Their projects embrace efficiency, inclusiveness, and sustainability, blending residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to create well-balanced communities that anticipate the needs of a rapidly evolving population.
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