The vertical infrastructure in Phase 1 including roads, water, electricity, solid waste system etc at 80 per cent completion
The vertical infrastructure in Phase One of the Konza Technopolis is 80 per cent complete, providing the requisite amenities for entrepreneurs to start putting up their investments.
Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) boss John Tanui, said that the vertical infrastructure incorporates the roads, water, electricity, solid waste system, and all the other amenities necessary for a city to run.
Eng Tanui said they deliberately constructed the infrastructure to the highest standards to not only ensure sustainability but also be a model for other developments in the country and region.
“We are talking about streetscapes where we have additional facilities including cycling lanes, green spaces, the allocation for things such as internet cables, water pipes, wastewater among others,” he said.
Speaking Monday during the SemaNaSpox zoom discussion, Tanui said they have a wastewater reclamation facility in their sewerage management system which reclaims over 95 per cent of the water for re-use.
“We have one of the first solid waste management systems in the region, where waste is separated at source and using an automated vacuum system, you collect the solids to one location, separate it and take it to the next process of recycling,” said Tanui.
The CEO said they are also constructing a research institute in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
“The institute will have students at master’s and PHD levels and this will position Kenya as a regional hub for research and innovation,” he said.
This is besides the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which is under construction with backing from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and is expected to have its first intake in the next year.
At the same time, the Authority is working with the Ministry of Energy to put up the 700 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) power sub-station to supply enough power to support manufacturing at Konza.
“The Technopolis is expected to contribute at least 2 per cent of our GDP. Currently, our GDP is estimated to be 100 billion dollars and we are looking at Konza to contribute at least two billion dollars to the economy yearly,” he said.
He said Konza is geared toward creating job opportunities with Phase One expected to generate 17,000 jobs in the high-skilled labour and technology category.
Phase One uptake by investors is 75 per cent and includes areas to build residential houses, offices, manufacturing zones and other things required in a city and a special economic zone.
“We are already hosting the national data centre at Konza making it very easy for the public and private sector to run their e-platforms, websites and other IT related software at reduced total ownership cost,” said Tanui.
The Government Spokesperson, Col (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna, called on schools and educational institutions to visit the Konza Technopolis for learning and as a way to motivate students to take up courses in the technology space.
“The government has the Digital Literacy Programme and visiting Konza should be one of the practical sessions so that the students can see where their skills are required and therefore put more effort in their studies,” said Oguna.
Source: MY Gov