SILICON SAVANNAH IN EAST AFRICA: KONZA TECHNOPOLIS

In recent years, it has been a fairly open secret that Africa is moving rapidly to the centre stage of technological innovation. In some cases, this push has been government led, but in most cases, intrepid pioneer techies have led the way. The appetite is great and examples of grand ideas and projects sweep through the continent from deep south in South Africa, through Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania in East-Central Africa, and onward to Nigeria and Egypt. 

 The government of Kenya has for most of the last decade publicised hi-tech projects, decidedly claiming the initiative in directing the future explosion of technology innovation. It is something of a wonder that one of the most muted in the media , and yet, in my view, most impactful, transformational, even revolutionary mega project, is The Konza Technopolis. From a bare savannah grassland just 60 kilometres outside the Nairobi Metropolis, work has been going on to bring the dream into being; slowly, but, unrelentingly, surely! The groundwork is being laid for a smart city, modelled on some of the best in the world. 

 I was happy to stumble on a media report of the quiet on goings recently.

 I need not write further about it. I would much rather that you see and hear for yourself both what the government is doing, and what it says it is doing. Please click on these links, which include independent media clips. 

1. Konza Technopolis Authority Homepage: https://www.konza.go.ke/ 

2. Konza Technopolis on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXS987Yfyss 

3. Konza Technopolis in the media (uploaded on Youtube):

    i) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6LbjS0k9NQ 

    ii) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDuCwFCI5AY

    ii)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPqogyrOGU 

 Ally