Konza Technology City

Konza Technology City
Location Makueni County
Developer HR&A Advisors, Inc
Construction cost Kshs 1.2 trillion
Architect SHoP Architects
Size 2,000 ha (5,000 acres)
Website www.konzacity.go.ke

Konza Technology City is a large technology hub planned by the Government of Kenya to be built outside of Nairobi.[1][2]

Konza Technology City is a business process outsourcing (BPO) project that is being marketed by the Kenyan government through Kenya ICT Board. It is dubbed "where African silicon savannah begins".[3] According to the Konza information website, the project wants to attract business process outsourcing, software development, data centres, disaster recovery centres, call centres and light assembly manufacturing industries; and build a university campus focused on research and technology as well as hotels, residential areas, schools and hospitals.[2] It is also intended to include a science park, a convention centre, shopping malls, hotels, international schools, and a health facility.

Konza Techno City was allowed by the Parliament Account Committee and endorsed by the Kenyan Government.[4] The project will be built 64 km south of Nairobi on the way to the port city of Mombasa, on 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of land in Makueni County.[2][5] It is estimated to cost 1.2 trillion Kenyan shillings (approx US$14.5bn).[1] It is marketed as a key driver of Kenya’s national development plan, known as Kenya Vision 2030.[1][2]

Design team

The Ministry of Information and Communications (Kenya) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) engaged Master Delivery Partner 1 (MDP1) to prepare a detailed business plan and master plan for Phase 1 in July 2012. The Expression of Interest for this assignment attracted 22 firm responses, narrowed to 6 in a shortlist. The Ministry and IFC selected the team led by HR&A Advisors, Inc. of New York City leading a 6-firm international team:

  • HR&A Advisors, Inc.; A real estate and economic development advisory firm specialising in large-scale master plan implementation.
  • SHoP Architects: An architecture and planning firm creating the conceptual design for the sales pavilion and the urban design for Phase 1.
  • Dalberg Global Development Advisors: An international strategy consulting firm with a Nairobi presence advising on economic strategy, tenant outreach, and organisational strategy for the KOTDA.
  • Center for Urban and Regional Planning: A Nairobi-based physical planning firm preparing the Local Physical Development Plan for Konza
  • OZ Architecture: A design firm providing sustainability strategies for Konza.
  • Tetra Tech: An international engineering services firm developing the infrastructure concepts for Konza.

Development

The initial feasibility and concept master plan was prepared jointly by Deloitte and Pell Frischmann, a UK based design consultancy and funded by the International Finance Corporation.[6] At that stage, the project brief was limited to a Technology Park of 280 ha (700 acres) with BPO/ IT businesses at its core. During the feasibility study, Pell Frischmann proposed a city – Konza Technopolis to make the technology park a more viable destination. The Kenyan government agreed and commissioned a new master plan for a city of 2,000 ha (5,000 acres) that was completed by Pell Frischmann. World class infrastructure, sustainability and inclusive growth were the key drivers of this master-plan. The brand identity of Konza Technopolis as “the Silicon Savannah” and supporting promotional materials by Pell Frischmann and Urban Graphics, crystallised the Kenyan Government’s vision of creating a world class city, powered by a thriving IT sector and generating 100,000 jobs by 2030.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Anderson, Mark (5 January 2015). "Kenya's tech entrepreneurs shun Konza 'silicon savannah'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kenya begins construction of 'silicon' city Konza". BBC News. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Kenya ICT Board Archived 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Patrick Thuita; Construction News "Kenya to build sh1.2Trillion ICT PARK
  5. ↑ http://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Charity-Ngilu-Konza-Machakos-Makueni-Land/-/1064/2309544/-/1d5g7az/-/index.html
  6. ↑ Pell Frischmann "Athi River SEZ, Kenya"

http://arctech.co.ke/

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