Vertical City Rising: Inside the Sh7 Billion Housing Development Changing the Nyali Skyline

Construction works at the Nyali Affordable Housing Project in Mombasa County are moving forward as the site transitions from foundational stages to the rising of 14 residential blocks. Located on a 23-acre parcel in the Maweni area near the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation offices, the Sh7 billion development is designed to alleviate the steep housing deficit in the coastal city.

The project, which broke ground in February 2025, serves as a flagship under the national Affordable Housing Programme. Its design follows a vertical city concept, maximizing the use of space in the upmarket Nyali suburb to accommodate a total of 1,932 housing units. These units are being built to serve a wide demographic, ranging from studio apartments for young professionals to three-bedroom family homes.

According to the project specifications, the housing mix is divided between social, affordable, and market-rate categories. The residential towers will house 150 studio units, 112 one-room units, and several hundred two- and three-bedroom apartments. Prices for the social housing tier start as low as Sh640,000 for a single room, while the three-bedroom market units are priced up to Sh4.8 million.

Project Architect Aggrey Maganga recently indicated that the development is being executed by multiple contractors to manage different components of the massive site. Vaghjiyani Enterprises is handling the primary residential construction, while Parklane Construction is tasked with the market and associated infrastructure. This division of labor aims to ensure the commercial and social facilities keep pace with the residential towers.

Beyond the residential blocks, the site plan incorporates essential social amenities that turn the development into a self-contained community. A level four hospital with 50-bed capacity is slated for the site, which will include a labor ward and theater to serve both residents and the surrounding Maweni community. Educational needs are also addressed through the inclusion of a kindergarten, a primary school, and a junior secondary school within the complex.

Economic impact is already visible on the ground. The project has created approximately 650 direct construction jobs, with local labor from the Nyali and Kisauni areas heavily involved. Fabrication of steel doors and window frames has been ring-fenced for the Kisauni Jua Kali Artisans Association, ensuring that the heavy investment in materials directly benefits the local informal sector and small-scale manufacturers.

The location of the project offers a 400-meter frontage along the Mombasa-Malindi highway. This proximity to a major transport corridor is expected to facilitate easy access for the 8,000 people projected to utilize the site daily once it is fully operational. Additional onsite facilities include a community center, a commercial building with 1,000 market stalls, a clubhouse, and a dedicated wastewater treatment plant.

Construction is proceeding toward a phased completion. While the market component is projected to be ready by October 2026, the full housing development is anticipated to reach completion in February 2027. Safety and security have been prioritized, with on-site police presence and a shift toward 24-hour construction schedules as the blocks reach cri

tical heights.