Konza Technopolis Hosts African ICT Ministers

Konza Technopolis is set to be the epi-centre of Africa’s model of Smart City following a visit by Africa Ministers of Information Technology who all expressed the desire to learn from its implementation. The Ministers who were among the delegates who attended the recently concluded Connected Africa Summit were on a familiarization tour of the Silicon Savannah.

“This visit to Konza shows that Africa is rising and taking its rightful place in the next industrial revolution which is the 4^th Industrial Revolution and the potential of being in the frontier of innovation and technology. We will find way to collaborate, build synergy, harness the resources we have as a continent to reach the Africa Vision 2067,” Salima Bah, Sierra Leone Minister of ICT said during the visit.

“In Malawi we are conceptualizing our smart city called, Vera Smart City and we will be very happy to learn more from Konza Technopolis and how they have implemented it,” Baldwin Samuel Chinyamwka, Minister of Information & Digitization said during the familiarization tour to the Silicon Savannah.

“We are happy to be hosting such a high-profile delegation of ministers of Information Communication and Technology from various African countries to show case our Silicon Savannah,” Eliud Owalo, the Cabinet Secretary of Information Communication and Digital Economy said.

Kenya played host to the Connected Africa Summit 2024 whose theme was “shaping the future of a connected Africa: unlocking growth beyond connectivity”. The Summit which ended on Thursday was officially opened by President William Samoei Ruto.

“As Africa we must bridge the digital divide by coming together and forging a united front whereby, we leap toward a digital transformation into the modern time,” President Ruto said during the opening ceremony.

Konza Technopolis is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development blue print that aims to transform Kenya into a middle-income country with higher standards of living for Kenyans.

“We need to build stronger synergies on creating network of innovation city and startups that can benefit across the region. We are building Kigali Innovation City mirrored on the Konza Technopolis model,” Paula Igabire. Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation said. Other Ministers present were Emma Thefelus of Namibia, Chris Banyomuusi, Uganda Minister of ICT & National Guidance and Rapeli Tjabane Ministry of Communication from Lesotho.

“At Konza Technopolis, we are tasked with midwifing innovation, research in science and technology. Our primary goal is to develop a thriving sustainable smart city and a vibrant innovation ecosystem contributing to Kenya’s knowledge economy,” John Paul Okwiri, Chief Executive Officer of Konza Technopolis Development Authority said.

Most African countries are on the path to establishing Smart Cities as part of riding on Industrial Revolution 4.0 and digital economy.

The establishment of Konza Innovation Ecosystem Initiative (KIEI), which supports the creation of new enterprises, training of young innovators, and commercialization of research findings, has seen over 100 startups and innovators supported by providing them with mentorship, funding, and access to markets. It has established partnerships with over 50 institutions, such as universities, research centers, and industry associations, to foster knowledge transfer and innovation. It has also facilitated the development and commercialization of over 20 innovative products and solutions, such as smart irrigation systems, e-health platforms, and blockchain applications.

The Ministers visited the completed Data Center a Tier III Uptime certified data center, digital waste recycling plant, water treaatment plant, the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Open University of Kenya (OUK) among other facilities.

Konza Technopolis, also known as Silicon Savanna has been implementing Phase I which is the development of horizontal infrastructure such as roads, walkways, installation of smart street lights, construction of an underground tunnel for carrying all service and power cables.

“We are at a completion rate of 97 per cent with all horizontal infrastructure in place,” Okwiri said. “We have on-barded over 100 investors who are developing their parcels of land, what we call vertical infrastructure,” he added.