Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s ambitious smart city project, marked a historic milestone with the launch of its Phase 1 Horizontal Infrastructure, solidifying its role as Africa’s Silicon Savannah. The event, attended by President Dr. William Samoei Ruto, showcased Kenya’s commitment to becoming an innovation-driven, industrialized nation.
President Ruto, whose visionary leadership has propelled Kenya’s digital transformation, hailed Konza as “the architecture of Kenya’s future economy.” The launch, a pivotal step toward realizing Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) Digital Superhighway, transforms the once-open savannah into a thriving hub for innovation, blending smart city design, a special economic zone, and a science and technology park.
The completed Phase 1 infrastructure includes 40 km of smart roads, landscaped boulevards, and green corridors; 170 km of utility networks for water, power, and digital systems; a 120MW smart substation; advanced water treatment and reclamation facilities; and East and Central Africa’s first vacuum-based solid waste system. Additionally, the phase features a Smart City Operations Center, an Experience Center, a Tier III National Data Center, affordable housing, and an academic hub hosting the Open University of Kenya, Riara University, and Kenya-AIST.
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John Paul Okwiri, CEO of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), emphasized the project’s role in advancing Kenya’s innovation agenda. “This is a bold step toward a globally competitive, sustainable city,” Okwiri stated.
The launch was graced by key figures, including Cabinet Secretaries Hon. William Kabogo (ICT & Digital Economy) and Hon. Alice Wahome (Housing & Urban Development), alongside Principal Secretaries Dr. Juma Mukhwana, Aurelia Chepkirui Rono, and others. Legislators, including Hon. Thuddeus Nzambia (MP Kilome), Hon. John Kiarie (Chair, ICT Committee – National Assembly), and Hon. Allan Chesang (Chair, ICT Committee – Senate), underscored the robust policy support for Kenya’s digital economy. Former MP Hon. Regina Ndambuki was also recognized for her foundational contributions.
Governors and leaders from Machakos, Makueni, and Kajiado counties were lauded for their partnership, ensuring Konza’s success as a shared vision. The project, a cornerstone of Kenya’s digital and economic future, continues to move the nation “boldly, purposefully, and irreversibly into the First World.”
