Kenya's real estate firm, Optiven, feted for environment sustainability initiative
The GoGreen initiative run by the Optiven Foundation under its environment pillar has been dubbed a game changer in the real estate sector. Already the initiative has been replicated by companies under the Kenya Private Sector Association (KEPSA) and real estate industry in their Economic Social Governance (ESG) blueprints.
6TH APRIL 2023 || GREENFACTS REPORTER
NAIROBI: Kenya’s leading real estate company, Optiven, has been awarded
for its environment sustainability initiative during the Annual Kenya
Professional Realtors Association (KIPRA) Awards.
The GoGreen initiative run by the Optiven Foundation under its environment
pillar has been dubbed a game changer in the real estate sector. Already the
initiative has been replicated by companies under the Kenya Private Sector
Association (KEPSA) and real estate industry in their Economic Social
Governance (ESG) blueprints.
The KIPRA Awards held in Nairobi on 31st March came as
the company is looking to further sustainably manage its real estate
development projects with emphasis on value additions that embrace the circular
economy.
The Green Technology category under which
Optiven won recognizes companies that have demonstrated use of sustainable
/green building materials; Quality, durability, longevity; Relevance to context;
Empathetic to user considerations; High levels of research into use of
resources, Sustainable site development; Water savings; Energy efficiency; and Indoor
environmental quality among other criteria.
Speaking after receiving the award Optiven Foundation Chairman, George
Wachiuri, said: “We are happy that as a company our GoGreen initiative has been
singled out and awarded. This is a great impetus for the team to continue
advocating and working towards sustainability initiatives to make our world a
better place than we found it. A special appreciation to the Kenya Professional
Realtors Association (KPRA) family and I dedicate this award to all those
making a difference in the environmental and sustainability circles locally and
abroad.”
At the same event, Wachiuri, who is also the Optiven Group Chief Executive Officer, was installed to the fellowship of the KIPRA.
The bestowment now confers to Wachiuri the honor of fellowship of the KPRA as recognized from the year 2022. The bestowment is in recognition of Wachiuri’s dedication to the real estate industry.
In appreciating the honor, Wachiuri said: “I am most humbled by this one of kind recognition and reward by the Kenya Professional Realtors Association – KPRA. It has been for me a journey of passion and pain, but one filled with the desire to empower people to create wealth and live better for the future.”
Wachiuri who is also the lead at the George Wachiuri School of Mentorship added, “As I receive this award, I call on players in the real estate space to never tire of improving their trade and building the trust of the masses in order for us to provide real real estate solutions that are transformative for our customers.”
He also called for those companies established within the industry to continue offering opportunities for learning and engagement for the youth in order for them to share experience opportunities. Speaking on the scorecard for Optiven, Wachiuri said, “As a company we are on course to continuously offer opportunities to youth to enable them meet the threshhold for experience that the corporates are looking for as we continue on our path to be champions of social economic transformation.”
Apart from running a management trainee programme, Optiven Limited has also been offering mentorship opportunities for college students since the year 2019. Through the George Wachiuri School of Mentorship, Wachiuri spearheads a mentorship programme for entrepreneurs in the small and medium enterprise spaces via online coaching.