Konza technology city – the Kenya version of “Silicon Valley” to be launched this week

Artistic Impression of the Konza Techno City. IMAGE/File

Konza technology city – the Kenya version of “Silicon Valley” is to be officially launched on Wednesday January 23 – setting the stage for construction work to commence.

The first phase of development of the Konza technology city is estimated to take five years and will be funded by both local and foreign investors and the Kenya government at a cost of Ksh 850 billion (US$9.8 billion).

The Konza project has already captured the interest of many local and international investors who will begin work on the ground soon after ground-breaking.

Investors are expected to begin laying foundation for structures while the local government will begin developing infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water sources.

“We are excited to finally launch this development, though it has come later than we initially expected. This will remove doubts among sceptics who thought Konza was a white elephant. Watch this space in the next five years,” said Mr. Bitange Ndemo – an official within the Kenya government bureacracy that has been directly involved in the conception of the Konza project.

The Konza technology city will be financed through a partnership between the government and the private sector, Konza is expected to position Kenya as a leading ICT hub in Africa by leveraging and expanding the country’s technology focused industries.

Source: Daily Nation