Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki will tomorrow officially launch the country’s first smart city at a ceremony that will mark the start of a 20-year journey towards making the technopolis concept a reality.
Set to house the biggest ICT infrastructure in the region, Konza City will comprise state of the art business and science parks, BPO and information technology-enabled companies among a host of other companies.
Already, a number of 18 local and international firms have committed to setting up sites in Konza City among them being IBM, Safaricom, Equity bank, Crudesco and Nairobi Women’s hospital, according to sources, with the full list set to be released tomorrow.
The first phase, according to director of the newly launched Konza Technolpolis Authority Dr. Reuben Mutiso, will cost about KSh680 billion to 700 billion shillings (approx. $8 billion) and will include construction, materials as well as fees for the consultants.
According to the Konza master plan, the first phase will host the BPO Technology Park as well as residential homes ranging from the very high density, high density, medium, density and low density residential.
It will also see construction of public utility infrastructure as well as roads and a sewerage treatment plant.
In the second phase, the key feature will be the kick starting of construction works of the central business district and that of a university campus even as residential buildings construction continues.
