Konza City Technopolis.

Konza City is one of the places in Kenya that I have on my list to visit. I'm sure many of you have heard about it too. So, Today let's try to understand this City of the future "where African silicon savannah begins".

WHAT IS KONZA?

Konza is a small town in Makueni County, Kenya. It is 70 kilometers southeast of Nairobi. It is located in the kKmutwa location of the central division of Machakos municipality. Konza is part of Machakos county and Machakos constituency. Konza city sits on 5000 acres.

The Konza city was launched as a part of the economic pillar of Kenya vision 2030 development plan. Konza is expected to transform Kenya into Africa’s ICT hub, it is also expected to reduce poverty and create many employment opportunities in Kenya and Africa in general. Konza city includes some large plans that will transform Kenya completely.

It is a planned technology hub and smart city that aims to be a beacon of innovation, sustainability, and economic growth for the region. Konza City is set to become a significant contributor to Kenya's development and transformation.

The City is far behind the schedule given it was supposed to be launched in 2020. Though phase one of the city is halfway complete as per last year it is also said that 40% of the land is taken by investors. According to the former Principal Secretary ICT Jerome Ochieng, some of the investors expected to break ground include hospitals, real estate developers and institutions of higher learning, government agencies such as National Construction Authority and KETRACO (Kenya Electricity Transmission Company) among others.

HOW IS THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COMING ALONG?

1.Konza complex 

In 2019, the Konza complex was completed, a mixed-use building, with offices, a conference hall and a hotel. The building has adhered to the Green Building standards and has integrated the state-of-the-art technologies of smart buildings.

2.Horizontal infrastructure:

The implementation of Horizontal Infrastructure at Konza Technopolis is currently underway through the EPC-F funding model. The project, which began in August 2018 and was supposed to run for three and a half years, encompasses the construction of Phase 1, including streetscape and sub-surface utilities, a wastewater reclamation facility, water treatment and storage, electrical power supply, public parks, and public facilities. The streetscape involves the development of roadways, parking areas, bicycle paths, pedestrian sidewalks, and landscaping. Sub-surface utilities encompass stormwater drainage, water supply distribution, wastewater collection, and electrical and ICT network infrastructure. The wastewater reclamation facility will treat water to drinking standards, while the water treatment system will utilize reverse osmosis. Public parks and facilities, such as police and fire stations, solid waste management facilities, and transit facilities, will enhance the quality of life in the area.

3.KENYA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology is designed as a strategic national institution, taking inspiration from the Korean Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST). Recognizing the pivotal role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), it aims to serve as a catalyst for accelerating the modernization and transformation of Kenyan society into a middle-income country by 2030. The institute's establishment highlights the significance of STI in driving progress and positioning Kenya for socio-economic advancement in the coming years.

4.Konza National Data Center

The Ministry of ICT, through Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), is currently implementing the Konza National Data Center and Smart City facilities project. This project is a priority for Phase I of Konza Technopolis and aims to establish the necessary infrastructure for Konza to function as a smart city. It is envisioned as a crucial driver for Kenya's digital economy, supporting data, voice, video, services, systems, and applications. The main components of the project include the construction of a Tier III National Data Center, a Disaster Recovery Data Center, the implementation of a backbone optical fiber network, provision of Wi-Fi access points, and the design and implementation of smart city services and facilities for Phase 1 of Konza. The project, which started in April 2019, has a planned duration of 2 years, with the current status indicating the completion of the design for the National Data Center and ongoing contractor mobilization.

5.Konza Conference center

Konza Conference Center is under construction. The center has a 5,000-capacity auditorium, conference halls and a One-Stop-Shop to service investors.

IMPACT THAT KONZA CITY WILL BRING TO KENYA'S ECONOMY.

If it were to become a reality, Konza would be the most advanced African city and an important driving force for economic growth, education and employment for the country as a whole. The City aims to attract business process outsourcing, software development, data centers, disaster recovery centers, call centers and light assembly manufacturing industries; and build a university campus focused on research and technology as well as hotels, residential areas, schools and hospitals. It is also intended to include a science park, a convention center, shopping malls, hotels, international schools, and a health facility.

Konza is anticipated to attract investments from both local and international sources, leading to the establishment of new businesses within the smart city. Currently, there is news that 15 companies are ready to invest in Konza. Supporters of Konza city believe that it will foster innovation and startups by providing research labs and incubation centers staffed by Kenyan innovators and entrepreneurs. Collaboration with local educational institutions is expected to enhance ICT education in the area. One of the significant benefits of Konza is the creation of employment opportunities. It is projected to address the high levels of poverty and unemployment rates in Kenya by generating approximately 200,000 new jobs in the ICT sector by 2030. Moreover, foreign investors arriving in the city are expected to create millions of job opportunities for Kenyan citizens.

It is worth noting that Dedan Kimathi, Science and Technology Park, was recently admitted as a member of the IASP(The International. Association of Science Parks), becoming the second member from Kenya after KonzaTechnopolis.

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