The Konza Technopolis is set to hand over an additional 73, 000 acres of land to investors amid rising interest due to the recently completed standard gauge railway (SGR) and the planned expansion of the Nairobi-Mombasa highway which promises to open up the area for business.
Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’I confirmed the report and said that this follows an agreement between the counties of Kajiado, Makueni and Machakos and the national government through the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) to expand new urban development. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will facilitate the proper planning of the belt, making investment around the smart city attractive and sustainable.
“This will protect thousands of jobs, investments and wildlife by preventing encroachment and uncontrolled development in the buffer zone,” said Dr Fred Matiang’i.
Konza Technopolis
The agreement was reached after the three counties’ governors held a meeting with Dr Matiang’i at Harambee House in Nairobi. The Technopolis is situated 60km from the country’s capital city of Nairobi. Once operational, the city will be able to attract software developers, university campuses focused on research and technology, hospitals, schools, high speed mass transport system, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) park among other world class amenities. It is also meant to put Kenya on the global spotlight as Africa’s premiere techno hub. This will also unlock the unemployment gridlock in the country.
As at December 2020, buyers such as hospitals, real estate developers, institutions of higher learning, the National Construction Authority (NCA) and the Kenya electricity transmission company (Ketraco) had acquired over 160 acres at Konza. Smart manufacturing, light industry logistics, smart agriculture, property development as well as ICT and Information Technology (IT) enabled services are some of the investments that are in high demand.
