NSSF (National Social Security Fund) is constructing a KSh 30 billion mixed use Twin Tower office complex, a landmark development that planners say will reconfigure the Nairobi City Skyline.
Developed by the now cash-rich NSSF, the building is billed to become the tallest in Kenya and East Africa. Tower A will rise 60 storeys (260 m) and Tower B 35 storeys (140 m).
Located at the junction of Uhuru Highway and Kenyatta Avenue, the NSSF Twin Tower complex will feature offices, a business hotel, serviced apartments, retail, conference facilities, an observation deck, and parking for over 1,100 cars.
This NSSF property is being fully funded by the pension fund and will take four years to completion. The complex is being put up of a 3.85-acre prime land, valued at KSh 4 Billion, that has remained idle for decades.
Controversy still dogs how the plot, which is originally said to have been owned by Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation(ICDC), found itself in the possession of NSSF.
Developers who attempted to purchase the plot were dissuaded by the huge kickbacks and bribes that certain state barons demanded. The list of developers who have attempted to acquire the plot includes billionaire Mukesh Ambani, Kenya Tourist Development Corporation, Holiday Inn hotel chain, Japanese firms the Ataka Group and Chori, among others.
This iconic development is a flagship mixed-use megastructure poised to redefine Nairobi’s commercial skyline.
NSSF complex being undertaken by Chinese contractors
The building’s masterplan, to be executed by China Bridge and Construction Company(CBCC), involves integration of a premium-grade office stack, an upscale business hotel, fully serviced apartment suites, retail and lifestyle floors, multi-format conference facilities, and a public observation deck perched on the 56th floor—a key tourism and city-branding feature.
To support the development’s high-density programme, the proposal includes a basement and podium-level structured parking system accommodating approximately 1,150 vehicles, alongside advanced mobility, fire-safety and sustainability provisions befitting a next-generation urban commercial hub.
The NSSF Twin Tower project will provide direct and indirect job opportunities to a significant number of the population during construction and occupational phases.
The Fund states that this development will ensure optimal use of previously undeveloped land in Nairobi’s central business district.
In recent years, many firms have been relocating to more spacious spaces within Nairobi such as Westlands, Upper Hill and Gigiri. This has left the city centre with less office space and traffic.
The proposed site has been undeveloped for some time, and the project shall utilise the parcels of land, raising their utility. The proposed use conforms to the area’s land use and is not unique in the general CBD.
NSSF states that the project is also expected to contribute to housing supply and commercial development. The use of locally available construction materials such as cement, concrete, ceramic tiles, timber, sand, ballast and electrical cables is expected to stimulate local industries.
This will contribute towards growth of the economy by increasing cash circulation and providing a ready market for suppliers such as quarrying companies and hardware shops.
Those doing commercial activities in the neighbourhood will have a wider market, owing to occupants and workers within the complex, generating tax revenue for the national and county government.
NSSF is forecast to collect approximately KSh 100 billion this year after monthly statutory contributions to the fund from salaried workers went up from KSh 200 to KSh 6,480 per month. This improved liquidity will enable the fund to finish the complex, whose construction is expected to take two years.
Given its central location within the city of Nairobi, the complex is bound to be an attraction for tourists keen to sample the city life and enjoy a panoramic view of the most active urban setting in East Africa.
While the project offers significant benefits, an Environmental Impact Assessment report has identified potential negative impacts such as loss of vegetation, greenhouse gas emissions and traffic disruptions during the construction phase.
During construction, NSSF said traffic disruption in the CBD will be minimized by proper scheduling of material deliveries, employing formal flagmen and installing clear signage. Noise pollution will be managed with sound barriers, portable shields for equipment, proper maintenance and protective gear for workers.
ALSO READ: Higher NSSF Deductions to Bite Into Salaries from Early 2026
Leave a comment