THE LOCATION ADVANTAGE IN KONZA CITY IMPLEMENTATION IN KENYA

 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE KONZA CITY

Figure 1: Visual impression of Konza City

Source: https://youtu.be/2rfNxNTasPg

The Konza Technopolis, named after a small town in Kenya where it is located, stretches the three Counties of Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado with an estimated area coverage of 5000 acres. Having been commenced in 2008, the implementation of the envisaged Smart City aims to fulfil the economic and social pillars of Vision 2030; a dream keen on promoting Kenya to a middle-income Country through eradication of poverty and creation of jobs.

It is definitely one of a kind in Eastern and Central Africa considering it is being built from scratch through a public-private partnership. Konza is ideally situated with its proximity to transport networks like the newly-completed Standard Gauge Railway and availability of space for expansion. The optimization of the location advantage in this case certainly entailed site selection suitability analysis, taking into account vast related datasets.

THE KONZA CITY ROLLOUT

The Konza Technopolis Development Authority has been keen on laying out the horizontal infrastructure to set the project in shape. This entails setting up the road networks, utility tunnels that take care of future expansion, security facilities and policies for land management; exclusively leasehold ownership. The Spatial Development Framework is taken into account since it guides on forecasted land use distribution based on population prospects and land use needs.

Figure 2: Konza City Land uses

Source: www.konza.go.ke

Development of vertical infrastructure, which is set to be undertaken in the next phase, is carried out expeditiously with the horizontal infrastructure in place. It involves site development in form of buildings and related structures. Just as any other Smart City, the vertical infrastructural development in Konza will be keen on optimization of resources through high density development and increasing efficiency by mixed land use. Wildlife conservations will be established to promote green spaces and data centers set up to facilitate optimization of information for decision-making, especially in this era of Internet of Things and Big Data. Currently, the Technopolis implementing body is scouting for potential investors in various sectors of the city.

BUFFERING FOR CONTROLLED DEVELOPMENT

It goes without saying that controlled development is vital to maintain a high value for the modern Smart City. The intended buffering of ten kilometers of Konza City to establish special planning zones is a geospatial technique meant to ensure harmonious transition of land use to the neighbouring community since the City will not be an island. This is enhanced through civic education and active engagement of locals in the development of Konza City.

Figure 3: Impression of buffer zones for Konza Smart City

Source: www.konza.go.ke

As the rollout of the project evolves from one phase to another, monitoring and evaluation is vital to ensure that the deliverables are met through temporal analysis of images that would cost-effectively be acquired using drones.

WHAT IS IN KONZA FOR THE YOUTHS LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE?

Despite about 75% of Kenyans being young people below thirty-five years, a majority are not active participants in the Country’s economy. With the establishment of Konza Technopolis, the young people are bound to benefit through nurturing of innovations, creative economic hubs and fueled growth based on a knowledge-based economy. It will be an alternative destination to existing cities with the projected increased urbanization at a rate of 5% annually.

Despite challenges in limited resources and political instability, Vision City in Rwanda, King City in Ghana and Cape Town in South Africa are exemplary benchmarks in the continent confirming that the Konza Smart City is a worthwhile project. Will Konza Technopolis become Africa’s Silicon Savannah? It is a matter of ‘wait and see'.

Aaron Omanyo

July 2021