konzacity.co.ke
The Kenyan Ministry of Information Communications and Technology (ICT) has formed the Konza City Community Consultative Forum, aimed at involving surrounding communities in the planning and development of the city.
The forum, unveiled by ICT cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi comprises of the governors of Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado counties Dr Alfred Mutua, Prof Kibutha Kibwana and David Nkadiye respectively.
Other members from the policymaker side will include cabinet secretary for devolution Anne Waiguru and principal secretary at the Ministry of ICT Joseph Tiampati, as well as senior officials from the Treasury and Ministry of Industrialisation and Enterprise Development.
The Ministry of ICT says the collaboration will promote improvement of the socio-economic welfare of the communities living around Konza City as well as the entire country.
Among the duties of the forum will include promoting cooperation in planning and development of the 10-kilometre buffer zone, expanding required infrastructure and formulating the required national and county laws, regulations and rules.
The governors in particular will be required to prepare the necessary county master plans and prioritise development to ensure harmonised development between Konza City and its environs.
In promoting investment the forum will help to improve the Konza City brand for attracting stakeholders from the real estate, education, hospitality, retail and wholesale sectors.
The national government specifically will assist in the planning of the buffer zone while counties will ensure the physical planning standards are in line with the national and county laws and regulations.
A statement from the forum says the government is committed to ensuring Konza City does not lag behind its timeframe.
“The Government will fast track the development of Konza City to ensure that it is completed within the scheduled period and encourage the contractors to source building materials and human resource locally where necessary,” read the statement.
The Local Physical Development Plan (LPDP) for the city has been approved prepared, while the government has prepared a detailed phase one Implementation plan, business plan and detailed master plan to guide implementation of the subsequent five years, while it has also established the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA) to implement the project.
