ICT and The Digital Economy Principle Secretary (PS)John Tanui has rallied Makueni, Machakos and Kajiado county governments to invest in Konza Technopolis, saying the Kenya Vision 2030 flagship project has immense potential to transform the socio-economic well-being of residents.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting on the Konza Technopolis Buffer Zone Inter-County Physical and Land Use Development Plan, Tanui advised the three host counties to leverage on the ultra-modern ICT infrastructure at the smart city to enhance service delivery.
He particularly invited the counties to take a keen interest in the National Data Centre and the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), which are being set up at the 5,000-acre facility.
"We are looking forward to seeing how the three neighbouring counties can start engaging and what role they have in the institution (KAIST). It is important that the county governments see how they can leverage that investment," the PS said.
On the buffer zone, PS Tanui said his State Department, through the Konza Technopolis Development Authority, was determined to ensure the 10-kilometre stretch was properly planned to attract appropriate investments.
"Konza has been well planned. It is important that the 10-kilometre buffer zone is equally planned so that we extend the investment and attract investments from across the world.
"The 10-kilometer will add us another 68,000 acres of land so that we have an overall 73,000 acres of land in our urban plan development," Eng Tanui told the stakeholders led by Kajiado Governor Ole Lenku.
He thanked the host counties for their continued backing of national government efforts to ensure the buffer zone is properly planned.
"Last year, we held sessions which resulted into the signing of an MOU which you were part of, and which was signed by various ministries supporting this agenda," the PS said, noting that the smart city was registering tremendous progress.
"We are impressed that from an initial population of less than 20, Konza has been able to attract over 3000 people working and building Konza Technopolis," Eng Tanui said.
He assured that the National Government was determined to fast-track the completion of the technology city, dubbed Silicon Savanna, to become the anchor of Kenya's innovation, technology and knowledge economy.
Konza Technopolis Buffer Zone Inter-County Physical and Land Use Development Plan was prepared in 2013 by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to promote guided development and safeguard investments in the Kenya Vision 2030 smart city.
©Standard Gazette, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Standard Gazette with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.