ESRI kicks off Household Survey as Rwanda readies for First African Green City

Esri Rwanda Ltd, the leading developer of geographic information systems (GIS) software is conducting Household Survey to identify the living conditions of citizens whose lives are set to be improved by the soon to be developed Kinyinya Green City which will be the first Green City in Africa.

Since past two days residents in the area where the city will be constructed have been speculating that “There are people who are doing the property valuation for the expropriation” which is not true, according to the official explanation reaching TOPAFRICANEWS.

In an Interview with Theodore Burikoko, GIS Technician at Esri Rwanda and Team Leader of the team which is conducting the Household Survey at the area said “the sample data being collected have nothing to do with expropriation.”

“We are collecting Preliminary data that will be used in the Design phase.” Burikoko said.

“After this survey, there will be also another phase of property valuation. What the team is doing is not property valuation rather the Team is conducting household survey and after analyzing collected data we will be able to determine the living conditions of that community.” He added.

This website has established that the collected data will serve the Design Team, however after design phase then the project implementing company will start property valuation.

Burikoko revealed that during the Design phase they will take into consideration the socio-economic status of that community.

This means that the design as well as implementation phase will make sure it has positive impact on the wellbeing of citizens.

“Those who are already living in that region are part of the Green City residents, because the green city will be inclusive. There are chances that the populated areas also are likely to become residential area in the green city.

“What will be done for instance, the project implementer may come and find a family who owns a house but the house which is not suitable for the Green city? The designers/developers will come and help that family to redevelop the house to match with the city attractiveness.” He explains

“The compensation for instance may be given to those whose properties for instance land was occupied by the road in the green city. Normally what residents should know is that the Green City design will not exclude them because they are part of that city.”