November 26, 2024

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Konza Technopolis begins to generate revenue 

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Konza Technopolis has started generating revenue for the government through the National Data Centre, billed to be the biggest in East Africa.

The data centre, which is currently in use by the government and more than 10 private companies, is one of the flagship projects that have been completed at the Konza Technopolis.

ICT and Innovation Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng said the development of the horizontal infrastructure within the Konza Technopolis continues and has paved way for uptake of space by investors who have already taken up 80 percent of the first phase.

“People look at Konza like a normal one-time project like building a school, hospital or market but this is not that kind of a project. We have visited various cities that have been developed on this framework and some have been under construction for over 20 years and still ongoing. People need to understand that this is not time bound,” said Ochieng.

ICT and Innovation Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng says the development of the horizontal infrastructure has paved way for uptake of space by investors who have already taken up 80 percent of the first phase.

He said Kenya is developing what is called ‘plug and play’ city where a building springs up and is connected to electricity, water, sewerage, internet and other services that are readily available.

“Those are the kind of infrastructure that the government has been constructing at Konza,” he said. “This is why the project has taken long. We are on the right trajectory as we share our experiences with the best in the world and we intend to achieve the best here at Konza.”

Ochieng said that the project also entails the establishment of smart vaccine production which will make Kenya one of the centres for vaccine production in Africa.

Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) chairman Reuben Mutiso said with the National Data Centre becoming operational, investors can now see the value for money that the project offers.

“Konza is providing value proposition for investors by being part of a smart city built from scratch with smart infrastructure. We have state of the art roads and one does not need to cut the roads to put pipes since the allocation is already made,” said Mutiso.

KoTDA CEO John Tanui said the Konza Technopolis is expected to create 17, 000 jobs by the end of phase one and have 200,000 residents by 2030.

Tanui said that KoTDA  has been able to attract investors into the project ranging from education institutions where the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is under construction it is modelled after the Korean Advanced Institute of Science Technology (KAIST).

He said a wide range of investors have taken up space ranging from light manufacturing and industry, hotel and convention centres, technical and vocational institutions, shopping malls and retail centres, student housing, furnished apartments, transport and logistics as well as energy, research and development, ICT companies and incubation centres, among others.