NAIROBI, (The Southern African Times) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said on Monday that it will support Kenya to develop the Konza Technopolis city.
Walid Badawi, UNDP Kenya resident representative, told journalists in Nairobi that the world body will facilitate the smart city to learn from the global experiences of other technology cities around the world.
“We will also provide support in implementation of Konza Technopolis Development Authority Strategic Plan,” Badawi said, noting that they will work with the Kenyan technology city to attract potential investors and innovators to establish their operations.
He added that the organization will also help to de-risk some of the investments that will be located in the smart city.
Konza Technopolis is a technology city located about 60 kilometers from the capital Nairobi.
In 2013, Kenya approved a master plan for the development of a smart city at Konza, approximately 60 km south of Nairobi along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
Badawi added that the Konza Technopolis is part of an ambitious plan by the government’s national development blueprint, Vision 2030, to drive economic growth by creating a world-class city fueled by a thriving information and communications technology sector, superior reliable infrastructure and a business friendly governance system.
“Konza is indeed well on track to becoming that leading hub for the region, attracting businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and creating millions of jobs all the while building upon and supporting the innovation ecosystem in the country,” he noted.
John Tanui, CEO of Konza Technopolis Development Authority said that the smart city is expected to generate 17,000 direct jobs at the end of phase one and have 200,000 residents in the technopolis by the end of 2030.
