SA firm picked to lead Kenyan plans to house 34,000 students

A consortium led by Genesis Analytics has been appointed to lead a project that plans to build hostels for 34,040 students in partnership with the private sector to alleviate the accommodation crisis at five Kenyan universities and colleges.

Rapid expansion of academic programmes in Kenya has put institutions of higher learning — currently admitting nearly 70,000 new students a year — under immense pressure to provide additional accommodation space.

The Kenyan Treasury’s Infrastructure Finance and Public-Private Partnership Unit (IFPPP) said the consortium would undertake a 18-month long comprehensive feasibility study on the commercial and technical viability on the five projects to be implemented at Moi University, Embu University College, Egerton University, South-Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) and Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC).

The IFPPP is a World Bank-funded credit facility that promotes increased, sustained private investment in the Kenyan infrastructure over an extended period of time to improve the enabling environment to generate a pipeline of bankable PPP projects. The universities are aiming to retain the services of private sector developers to develop, operate and maintain five separate university hostels.

Through the development of adequate residence the government of Kenya aims to improve the success of higher education institutions in line with its Strategic Vision 2030, which obligates universities to meet the increasing demand for higher education and to improve the welfare of students. This project aims to assist in reaching this goal by addressing the shortage of residences.

Each of the hostels proposed is unique, and will therefore be subject to an individual feasibility assessment to provide a preferred technical solution option and recommend a procurement option between public sector procurement and private sector participation, based on the principles of value for money, affordability, and effective risk transfer. The Genesis consortium will also assist in the planning of a bidding process and input in the evaluation of proposals received. The project will close after support and detailed guidance to the Kenyan government during the negotiation process.

Genesis consortium consists of India-based CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory and Kenya-based Lexicon +ion (architects), MMC Africa (legal advisory), PKF (local financial support), Lloyd Masika (facilities management) ad Tandem & Stark (quantity surveyors).

Genesis project manager Joel Barnor said: “We are aware that the successful completion of this assignment relies strongly on our ability to leverage local expertise and knowledge of this sector. Genesis/CRISIL have therefore also partnered with a number of Kenyan based firms that with the requisite technical skills and local contextual experience to augment the international strength of the consortium leads and ensure that the consortium delivers an exceptional project that is fit for the local context.”

Genesis Analytics, an economics-based consultancy firm in Johannesburg, has recently opened an office in Nairobi. It is headed by Betty Maina, who is the local point of contact for engagement on the project.

For more information: Didi Moyle, Genesis Analytics
didim@genesis-analytics.com
+27 82 808 5108