Phase one of the Konza Technopolis vertical infrastructure is 80 percent complete providing the requisite amenities necessary for investors who have already started construction works for their investments.
Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eng. John Tanui said that the vertical infrastructure incorporates roads, water, electricity, solid waste system, and all the other amenities for a city and they have constructed them in world class standards to ensure that the infrastructure is futuristic, resilient, sustainable and a model for other developments in the country and regionally.
“We have some of the latest world class infrastructure at Konza, when we talk about roads we are talking about street-scapes where we have additional facilities like cycling lanes, green spaces, allocation for things like internet cables, water pipes, waste water among others,” said Tanui.
Speaking on Monday during the SemaNaSpox zoom discussion, Tanui said that in the sewerage management they have the latest technology which is called waste water reclamation facility which collects all the waste, treats it and reclaims over 95 percent of the water for re-use because Konza is a water scarce location.
“We have one of the first solid waste management system in the region where waste is separated at source and using an automated vacuum system you collect the solids to one location, you separate it and you can take it to the next process of recycling,” said Tanui.
“We have a research institute which will take students in masters and PHD currently under construction, in partnership with the ministry of education and this will position Kenya as a regional hub for research and innovation,” added Tanui.
He highlighted that they are working with the ministry of energy to put up a 700 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) power substation expected to supply enough power to support manufacturing at Konza.
“The Technopolis is projected to contribute at least 2 percent of our GDP. Currently our GDP is estimated to be 100 billion dollars and we are looking at Konza to bring in at least two billion dollars to the economy yearly,” he said.
He explained that Konza is geared towards creating job opportunities in what they call knowledge workers and in phase one they are looking at creating 17,000 jobs in high skilled labour and technology with other indirect job opportunities.
Tanui explained that in phase one the uptake by investors is 75 percent and the spaces include areas to build residential houses, offices, manufacturing zones and all other things that are required in a city and a special economic zone.
He highlighted that the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) are consulting for the establishment of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology which is under construction and is expected to have the first student’s intake in the next one year.
“We are hosting the national data centre at Konza and it is already operational making it easy for public and private sector to run their e-platforms, websites and any other IT related software’s easily without investing a lot and reducing the total cost of ownership,” said Tanui.
Government Spokesperson Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna called on schools and educational institutions to visit the Konza Technopolis and see the progress for learning purposes and for motivating the students to take up courses in the technology space.
“The government has the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) and visiting Konza should be one of the practical’s so that the students can see where their skills are required and therefore put in more efforts in their studies,” said Oguna.
