It has been seven years since the Konza Technopolis, popularly known as Konza City was launched and construction commenced.
Dubbed as "Africa's Silicon Savannah" the city intended to be an IT business hub, is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development blueprint.
Sitting on a 5,000-acre (2,011-hectare) site 70 kilometres from Nairobi, the construction workers are hard at work to ensure the project is a success.
With an expected cost of Ksh 595.8 Billion upon completion in 2030, the government projects the city to create more than 200,000 jobs.
The project was allocated an additional Ksh6.3 billion in the 2020/2021 budget in June.
In May 2020, ICT CS Joe Mucheru announced that the construction of the National Data Center (Phase I -Containerized) at Konza was ready for use.
Speaking while inspecting the progress at Konza Technopolis, CS Mucheru stated that the data centre was expected to support immediate government requirements, business enterprises and provide an environment for implementing and piloting initial smart city services.
Developers at the site are adopting modern technologies with Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) Chief Manager for Physical Planning, Design and Compliance Anna Musyimi stating that the shifting from traditional construction to green buildings will ensure the long-term sustainability of urban places and also improve the quality of life of inhabitants.
“I urge fellow architects, consultants in engineering and also leaders in government to move from the traditional approaches of design and construction of buildings and urban development and embrace sustainability and green architecture and practices to ensure that the resources we have today can be available to our future generation,’’ she stated.
Konza is implementing several green practices in its development to advance environmental conservation with the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS).
In September 2020, the Korean EXIM Bank committed Ksh94 million to fund a feasibility study for the development of media city at the Konza Metropolis.
TV broadcasting, animation and gaming, filming and photography, and ICT programming were pointed as the main components of the digital media city.
At the same time, KoTDA is expanding the development of horizontal infrastructures such as roads, walkways, green spaces, and all basic utilities.
The project enjoys political backing as Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana on August 2020, had pledged his government’s support to the Konza Technopolis.
Kibwana stated that the project was of great interest to Makueni County and as such, he would ensure that his government worked closely with the Technopolis to assure its success.
“As a governor, my interest is to be supportive in every way to the national level leadership to actualize this very important project. Our interest in Konza is not only because it is a world-class investment, but also because it is within our precincts," he stated.
Here are more photos of Konza Technopolis:
