Investors have acquired over 160 acres at the Konza Technopolis amid growing demand due to the implementation of infrastructure projects which have opened up the area such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and expansion of the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
The Land buyers include hospitals, real estate developers, and institutions of higher learning, the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the Kenya electricity transmission company (Ketraco). Konza Technopolis ) is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development portfolio. Konza will be a world-class city, powered by a thriving information, communications and technology (ICT) sector, superior reliable infrastructure and business friendly governance systems.
Phase one of the Konza project, which sits on a 410-acres of land, is distributed into mixed use (89 acres), university (39 acres), residential (26 acres) and life science (26 acres). Others include office space (11 acres), retail (eight acres), cultural community (one acre), parks (79 acres) and transportation and other public space (130 acres).
Africa’s Silicon Savannah
“So far, we are happy to note that the project has realised more than 40% uptake. Some of the investors expected to break ground include hospitals, real estate developers and institutions of higher learning, government agencies such as the National Construction Authorit, among others,” said ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng.
The Konza Technopolis, seen as the best proponent of Kenya’s claim to be Africa’s Silicon Savannah, was gazetted as a Special Economic Zone last year by the Trade and Industrialisation ministry for ICTs, business, health and education.
Mr Ochieng said investments that are being eyed for the area include smart manufacturing, light industry logistics, smart agriculture, property development as well as ICT and Information Technology (IT) enabled services. Others include pharmaceutical services, education and training institutions, hotels and convention centres, entertainment, recreation and sports facilities, business enterprises among others.
