Africa's Tallest Residential Tower in Nairobi Targets May Completion Following Global Supply Delays

Construction of the 88 Nairobi residential tower in Upper Hill has entered its final phase, with developer Jonathan Jackson projecting a completion date of May 2024. The project, which has been marketed as a landmark high-rise for the continent, is currently undergoing intensive internal finishing works after overcoming a six-month delay in its supply chain.

The primary bottleneck for the project involved the procurement and fabrication of a high-specification window system. Jackson, the lead developer, explained that while the system was designed in Poland by Alprof, the fabrication was outsourced to a firm in Egypt. A contractual dispute between the Polish supplier and the Egyptian fabricator regarding pricing and expectations halted production for nearly half a year. The materials, originally expected in July last year, only arrived at the site shortly before the December break.

Despite the external delays, internal works on the 44-storey structure have remained ahead of the typical construction sequence. In most high-rise developments, the building must be made watertight with windows before internal finishes begin. However, at 88 Nairobi, electrical cabling, plumbing, and ceiling installations are already complete across most floors. On-site inspections show that tiling in bathrooms and corridors is finished, with kitchens and wardrobes already installed in several units.

The arrival of the window components has now triggered the final phase of flooring. Because of weather considerations, the final floor finishes could not be laid until the building was sealed. The window system itself features laminated glass for acoustic insulation and specifically slim aluminum profiles designed to maximize the panoramic views of the city, Wilson Airport, and the Ngong Hills.

Externally, the building has shed most of its scaffolding. The facade is being treated with a German-engineered "nano finish" paint, which is designed to be self-cleaning by allowing rainwater to wash away dust and dirt. This choice is intended to reduce long-term maintenance costs and the operational overhead of manual high-altitude cleaning.

The project features 330 apartments categorized into executive units, sky suites, and penthouses. The developer noted that the top-tier units include four presidential penthouses and a single "royal" penthouse covering an entire floor, each featuring private infinity pools and four-meter ceiling heights. To cater to investors, the project also introduced "split units," which are two-bedroom apartments with separate title deeds and entrances, allowing owners to rent out segments of the property independently.

From a commercial perspective, the developer reported that early investors have seen substantial capital appreciation. Studio units that initially sold for Sh6.5 million are now valued at approximately Sh17 million. Current market prices for remaining units start at $200,000 for one-bedroom apartments and upwards of $250,000 for two-bedroom configurations.

The amenity deck is also nearing completion, featuring a 3.5-meter-high gym, a spa with five massage parlors, a sauna, and an "ice pool." A signature bar, dubbed the Louvre Bar, is being developed as a destination point for the Upper Hill district. Jackson emphasized that the project has been built to American structural standards and European interior specifications to ensure it remains a competitive legacy asset in the Nairobi skyline.