As the key project of Kenya’s national development plan Vision 2030, Konza Technopolis which is in its closing stages of completion in the first phase, is wooing Chinese investors.
The technopolis has many opportunities that can bring Africa and China together according to Anna Wafula, manager of business development and innovation at the Konza Technopolis Development Authority.
“For instance, here at Konza Technopolis, we have many investment opportunities that can be taken up by Chinese investors who will enjoy incentives, such as tax reliefs, while operating under a one-stop shop because the Technopolis is a special economic zone.”
Work done on the 1st phase of the project
Konza Technopolis is winding up laying the essential infrastructure and categorizes the first phase of the project. It is projected that Phase I of the Technopolis, upon completion, will generate 17,000 jobs. Additionally, the Technopolis will contribute an additional 2 per cent of GDP to the country.
A 400-kilovolt Konza substation, one of the key infrastructure undertakings in the Technopolis is being constructed. The substation is constructed by the China Aerospace Construction Group Co and is projected to supply power by March next year.
Background of the Konza Technopolis Project in Kenya
Konza (Konza Technopolis ) is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development portfolio. The city is located 60km from Kenya’s capital Nairobi. When complete, it is expected to be a world-class city, powered by a thriving information, communications and technology (ICT) sector, superior reliable infrastructure and business-friendly governance systems.
The city will be home to leading companies in education, life sciences, telecom, and BPO/ITES. Commercial space for these uses will be complemented by diverse residential neighbourhoods, hotels, a variety of retail offerings, community facilities, and other public amenities.
Konza Technopolis is expected to be a walkable city, one that includes high-quality public spaces, active and varied amenities, and short commute times between destinations. Below is the project’s timeline and all you need to know:
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Timeline
2008
The Government of Kenya approved the creation of Konza Technology City as a flagship Kenya Vision 2030 project. Vision 2030 aims to create a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030.
2009
The Government hired the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank, to advise on the development and implementation of the project.
The Government also commissioned feasibility studies that demonstrated the viability of Konza, the focus on BPO/ITES, and its potential contributions to local economic development. The studies conducted include a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment, Legal and Regulatory Due Diligence, and a Demand Assessment.
The initial feasibility and concept master plan was prepared by Deloitte and Pell Frischmann, a United Kingdom-based consultancy. Pell Frischmann proposed the establishment of Konza, a technology park with world-class infrastructure that will be sustainable and have inclusive growth as key drivers.
During the same year, the Konza Technopolis project was initiated with the procurement of a 5,000-acre parcel of land at Malili Ranch, 60km southeast of Nairobi along the Mombasa-Nairobi A109 road.
2012
The Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology retained a team of consultants led by New York City-based HR&A Advisors, Inc. to prepare a detailed business plan and master plan for Phase 1. The Master Development Partner1 (MDP1) team included SHoP Architects, Dalberg, Centre for Urban and Regional Planning, OZ Architecture, and Tetra Tech.
The MDP team held extensive interviews with stakeholders, business leaders, and potential investors, and led 5 workshops with government officials over nearly a year to develop a comprehensive plan for Konza.
The first phase of Konza City was estimated to create over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The city would be developed as a public-private partnership, in which the Government will take a minimal role, in developing the public infrastructure and regulatory guidelines.
2013
President Mwai Kibaki broke ground for the project in Malili marking the start of the development of Konza Technopolis. The Board of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) was appointed as a special purpose entity to facilitate the development of Konza Technopolis.
2014
Infrastructure and parcel development guidelines begin.
Tetra Tech Inc will oversee the development of phase 1 of Konza City following the signing of a contract between them and Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA).
Colorado-based Tetra Tech was selected as the Master Delivery Partner 2 (MDP2) in Kenya’s smart city construction project. Other partners in the MDP2 consortium are 11 firms from the Netherlands, UAE, US, and Germany and five firms hail from Kenya.
According to the Vice President at Tetra Tech Inc Mr Michael Rothhammer, the company is keen to use its experience in technology to develop infrastructure for the city, which “will drive Kenya’s ambitious economic growth projections.”
The consortium is expected to develop a master plan-level design of the city. They will also identify and structure financing for sustainable options to the city, as well as deliver project-to-scale construction management.
Konza City is expected to drive Kenya’s trade and investments, in addition to creating employment for many people in Kenya (20, 000 by 2015). It will entail the construction of light assembly manufacturing facilities, call and data centres, BPO and software development facilities, and disaster recovery centres. Located along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, 60km southeast of Nairobi, the Konza city project is expected to cost US$14.5bn.
Already, Kenya Power has completed the provision of power to the site to enhance the construction of phase 1 of Konza City. The power would be used to pump water from boreholes to the site to help develop initial infrastructure, greening the city, and constructing of verticals. A dam, Thwake Dam, is being set up as a permanent water solution for the city and is expected to be completed in 2018.
Konza City is a BPO project marketed by the Kenyan government through ICT Board, a board tasked with Information Communication Technology matters in the country.
2014 December
The Deputy President of Kenya, William Ruto on Monday commissioned the first phase of the construction of the multi-billion dollar Konza City. The commissioning of the project comes after the planning of the first phase was successfully completed by Tetra Tech. This means that the project will now kick-off.
The first phase of the project involves the construction of access roads that will open up the city to infrastructural investments. The deputy president reassured residents and investors of the Government’s commitment to the realization of the project. He added that more funds will be channelled into the project in the next financial budget.
The US$14.5bn Technopolis is situated on a 5,000-acre piece of land 60km from the country’s capital city of Nairobi and is part of the Vision 2030 initiative set up by the government.
In this phase, Kenya Power has also commenced the installation of initial power that will be used to pump water from the seven boreholes that have already been dug to supply water to the city.
The African Development Bank had also set aside US$100m for the construction of Thwake Dam which will be able to provide reliable water for running operations in the city. The dam will be ready by 2018.
Once operational, the city will be able to attract software developers, university campuses focused on research and technology, hospitals, schools, a high-speed mass transport system, and a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) park among other world-class amenities. It is also meant to put Kenya in the global spotlight as Africa’s premiere techno hub.
2015
Access and arterial road construction and preliminary earthwork begin.
2016
KETRACO substation & ICTA fibre line completed.
The groundbreaking of the US$ 12m Konza Technology City in Kenya will finally begin in March this year months after stalling allowing the development of the mega project to kick off.
The groundbreaking of Konza Technology City in Kenya will prove wrong the rumours and reports that the project had stalled. The government has also come out to disagree with that information.
“Over the years we have received over 300 expressions of interest but at the end of this month we will know for sure how many of these will actually be putting in work at the park,” explained Mr Tanui.
The winning bidder who will be chosen to construct the school will be announced at the end of this month and construction is anticipated to commence at the beginning of the next financial year.
The Konza city technology project was launched by former President Mwai Kibaki in 2008 as a Vision 2030 project but has since been mired by scepticism on its viability and timing.
KoTDA is offering up 24 parcels of land to investors in the first phase of the project and will see an initial 60 acres of land put under development.
2016 November
The construction of the second phase of the Korean-funded project- Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) at the Konza Techno City is set to commence in the second quarter of 2017; this is according to the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat.
Julius Muia, Director General Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat confirmed the news and said that they have invested heavily in developing the master plan and critical infrastructure including roads, water and electricity, all of which are now at Konza city.
“We want to move as quickly and as timely as possible to ensure that Konza City is a success. We had to get everything right, which is why we have invested heavily in developing the master plan and critical infrastructure including roads, water and electricity, all of which are now at Konza.
These fundamentals have enabled all envisioned development to now take off, with KAIST as the anchor tenant at Konza,” said Julius Muia, Director General Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat.
This initiative comes after the Kenyan and South Korean Governments agreed on the regulatory framework that will see the Asian nation put in approximately US$ 98m so as to set up the public research university at Konza Techno City.
The establishment of the institution in Kenya will enhance the quality of higher learning while nurturing a technologically advanced population hence producing creative young talents and leaders.
Konza Technopolis Development Authority Chief Executive Officer, Engineer John Tonui laid out the progress of other critical support infrastructure that will establish Konza as an ICT hub and the driver of development in Africa.
Konza has already received over 400 expressions of interest from investors interested in setting up base at the Technopolis, some solicited while others have been solicited.
They include seven local universities; The University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Multimedia University and others.
KAIST is a public research university located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea and it is the first and top science and technology research university in Korea which has been the gateway to advanced learning, innovation, and a driving engine for the development of Korea for past four decades.
2017
Commitment for Konza Data Center with China Exim bank was signed. Implementation of Phase 1A and Technology/ University Bands begins.
2017 July
Italian firm ICM has won the Konza city roads and sewerage tender; this is Kenya’s first smart city.
The company was selected as the general contractor for the US$ 385m project and their priority will be to design the infrastructure for phase one of the project as well as procurement the necessary material and equipment.
Precisely known as the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing (EPCF) contractor, in detail, ICM will oversee the building of roads, water and sewerage infrastructure within the 400-acre phase one of Konza City.
Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA) chief executive, John Tanui confirmed the reports and said that construction works will commence in July this year.
“Construction starts in July and ICM is required to build horizontal infrastructure as well as all the basic amenities and build a water reclamation plant and a reservoir for the city,” said Mr Tanui.
The company will also landscape the parks and set up water distribution, sewage collection and treatment facilities.
ICM beat three other companies in the running for the project — Central Electrical International, China CAMC and Zhongmei Gibb.
ICM group of companies was founded in 1922 and has maintained a strong interest in the construction of roads; hydraulic and infrastructural works as well as civil engineering. It also has interests in mining and prefabrication.
The company has done other projects in Kenya including the rehabilitation of Maai Mahiu-Narok road, Webuye – Malaba road and Eldoret-Turbo-Webuye-road.
Konza is an important project for Kenya’s ambition to become East Africa’s technology hub, but its construction has been delayed for years to some extent due to lack of funding.
2018
Major Phase 1 infrastructure construction begins. Parcel Leasing also begins.
2019
First Konza Technopolis building ‘Konza Complex’ is complete.
2019 February
The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea towards an establishment of a graduate university at the Konza technology city.
Konza Technopolis Development Agency (KOTDA) invited bids for the setting up of the university and the Korean KAIST came out as the successful bidder for the turnkey-based education consultancy.
Samwoo and Sunjin architecture and engineering companies also emerged as successful bidders for the construction of the university. The contracts for the development of the university were signed by KOTDA in November last year.
Konza University
The project is funded by the Korean Exim Bank at a loan of US $10m. Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) will be the name of the proposed graduate university and it will be modelled on the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Like the Kenyan KAIST, Korean KAIST was founded through foreign financial support from USAID in 1971, as a loan worth US $6m. This formed the foundation for the transformation of the Korean economy from being agricultural to an industrialized economy due to the university’s provision of the necessary manpower that was crucial for industrialization.
Transforming Kenya into a middle-income country
The government of Kenya hopes that upon completion, KAIST will have a positive impact towards the attainment of Vision 2030 to transform Kenya into a middle-income country through the promotion of science, technology and innovation for national economic growth. To this end, the medium-term plan is to issue specialized research and training in various cutting-edge engineering and advanced science fields.
The university will be one of its kind (the first advanced science and technology institute) in the nation and it is expected to admit its first batch of 200 graduate students in 36 months’ time.
2019 November
Construction of the 400kV Konza-Isinya power line in Kenya has been launched by the project contractors, China Aerospace Construction Group. The project, which is being undertaken in partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Energy, is aimed to ensure a steady supply of power for Konza City, the proposed smart city located in Machakos.
It involves the construction of a 40km transmission line, which will power Konza City as well as Kajiado, Makueni, and Machakos counties. It is being funded by China Exim Bank.
Boosting County’s development
Speaking at the launch ceremony, China Aerospace’s Deputy GM Li Naihong, said the firm was working to help Kenya transform Konza into a Silicon Savannah that will contribute tremendously to the country’s technological development. “This project will be completed and put into operation at an early date. It will play an important role in the actualisation of the Big Four agenda and the development of Konza Technopolis,” said Li Naihong.
The Konza Techno City The Konza Techno City is an innovation hub constituting of technology firms and higher education space. The US $14.5bn Technopolis is situated on a 5,000-acre piece of land 60km from the country’s capital city of Nairobi. The project was launched by former President Mwai Kibaki in 2008 as a Vision 2030 project.
Once operational, the city will be able to attract software developers, university campuses focused on research and technology, hospitals, schools, a high-speed mass transport system, and a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) park among other world-class amenities. It is also meant to put Kenya in the global spotlight as Africa’s premiere techno hub.
2020
Phase 1 of the Data Centre was completed and the government commenced plans to roll out services of the National Data Centre. It was expected that Government ministries and other agencies would be the early movers to migrate their data to the centre whose services would also be available for private entities as part of the commercialization plan. The Data Centre attracted interest from both public and private entities.
The Centre would support the Government’s immediate requirements and business enterprises while providing an environment for implementing and piloting initial smart city services for Konza Technopolis.
2021
In July, the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) announced it has discounted part of its land fees in a bid to woo investors to the project. ICT Principal Secretary, Jerome Ochieng confirmed the report and said the agency has discounted its standard premium charge for investors paying the premium by December 31st this year and is ready to start construction before December 2022.
“Our commitment, as a government is reinforced by our actions and in the recent budget allocation for the year 2021/2022, we as the parent ministry have set aside over 70% of the budget for the development of this project,” said Mr Ochieng.
Investors who have since made payments for their parcels of land have been given access to spaces. They include the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), the National Construction Authority (NCA), Sosian Energy, Bigen Global and Vinjay Sandhu. Others are Geonet Technologies, GSI Kenya, Makueni Housing Cooperative and the Parklands Baptist Church.
January 2022
Horizontal Works to be completed for Phase 1 of the Konza Technopolis in Kenya
Eng. John Tanui, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), the agency in charge of the development of the Konza Technopolis Project in Kenya has announced that the horizontal Infrastructure works of the first phase of the project are expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
These works include; the construction of streetscape and sub-surface utilities; site grading and construction of street pavements; construction of stormwater drainage systems; construction of water supply distribution systems, and wastewater collection and reticulation systems.
They also include the installation of electrical and ICT networks, the construction of wastewater reclamation facilities, the construction of water treatment, pumping & storage facilities, and the installation of an electrical power supply system.
This is in addition to the construction of public parks including school playfields, football fields & landscaped areas, and public facilities such as police and fire stations, entrance and security feature, solid waste management facilities, and transit facilities.
“Last year, in 2021, we recorded over 70 per cent completion of the horizontal Infrastructure works of the first phase of the Konza Technopolis Project, and we expect the entire work to be completed within this year,” explained Mr Tanui, who speaking during an investor’s tour at the Konza Technopolis.
72% of land in Konza Technopolis Project Phase 1 taken up by investors for development
In his speech, Mr Tanui also revealed that 72%, or rather 106 out of the 147 parcels of land demarcated for uptake by investors in Konza Technopolis Project Phase 1, which is designed as a mixed-use community, comprising commercial, residential, public, and hospitality amenities, has been taken up for development.
The CEO said that they expect that the entire land parcels available will be taken up by June 2022 and that they are already in discussion with the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning to have more land demarcated for manufacturing since the parcels that had been set aside for that purpose have been fully taken up.
Sep 2022
Konza Technopolis: Construction of KAIST University Gets Underway
The construction of Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) at Konza Technopolis in Machakos County, close to the borders with Makueni and Kajiado Counties has begun.
This came to light when Amb. Simon Nabukwesi, the University Education and Research Principal Secretary visited the site to assess the excavation progress of the proposed postgraduate university that is modelled on the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Speaking during Amb. Simon Nabukwesi’s visit, the KAIST project contractor, BOMI Engineering and Construction Consortium which is a specialized construction company in reinforced-concrete construction said that the institution’s signature building will be completed by June 2022 before the planned Presidential groundbreaking.
The first batch of students is expected to be admitted in September this year.
Overview of the KAIST
Developed on a 36 acres piece of land, KAIST will comprise 10 research science labs working with specialized local and international researchers in science, technology, and engineering.
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The university will develop academic curricula for six initial departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, ICT Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Agricultural Biotechnology, which will be the foundation of engineering research and education in the East African country.
It will also be an institution of strategic national importance as Science, Technology, and Innovation is considered critical catalyst for fast-tracking modernization and transformation of Kenyan society into a middle-income country by the year 2030.
Expectations for the University
Generally, KAIST is expected to advance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses in institutions of higher learning in Kenya in a bid to create a large number of specialists to industrialize the economy of the country by the year 2030 as well as drive economic growth through advanced science and technology.
June 2023
Konza Technopolis Development Authority Unveils Report as Smart City Attracts Investor Interest
The Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) has launched its inaugural annual environmental, social, and governance (ESG) report as the first phase of Kenya’s smart city, Konza Technopolis, nears completion. The report provides updates on the progress of key projects in the smart city and emphasizes their sustainability aspects. Phase One of the project is 88% complete and has already attracted private investors and government entities, with over 80% of the space taken up by new investors.
The smart city facilities development is currently at 55% completion, while the Konza conference facility stands at 59% completion. The core buildings, administration buildings, laboratories, and accommodation for the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology are 17.58% complete.
KoTDA’s acting CEO, John Okwiri, expressed the authority’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlighted the benefits of the ESG report for investors. The report demonstrates KoTDA’s dedication to sustainable development, considering economic, social, and environmental conservation and preservation.
The authority is also focused on contributing to the national greening ambition by establishing a tree nursery with 600,000 seedlings scalable to 10 million trees. Furthermore, the smart city aims to promote urban farming technologies for food security and establish a 1000-acre wildlife corridor to preserve wildlife.
During the launch event, KoTDA signed agreements with Unesco and the Africa Centre of Technologies and Studies to enhance digital entrepreneurship development, foster skills and talent in the digital economy, and commercialize innovations. With its progress and partnerships, Konza Technopolis continues to attract investors and position itself as a hub for technological advancement in Kenya.
