The government of Kenya is inviting bids from investors to set up amenities at a proposed Technology Park situated on the outskirt of the capital – Nairobi.
Information Technology Communication (ICT) Permanent Secretary, Dr Bitange Ndemo, has hinted that the master plan for the proposed Konza Technology City, which was initially referred to as Malili Technology Park is ready.
“Around the end of this month, we will have a comprehensive presentation of the whole thing including the pictures and videos. In November, we will get the people interested to put up structures. We already have about five (investors) who have come and hopefully at the beginning of the year, we can see something going on,” said that Ndemo.
The project which is expected to cost billions of shillings will entail the construction of a high-tech science park, residential estate, hotels and other social amenities such as schools, hospitals and universities.
Not only is it expected to eventually create about 80,000 jobs and improve the livelihoods of people living around the area, it will also provide a gateway to the East African region, said Carl Powell, a consultant appointed by the International Finance Corporation and the government to determine the project’s viability.
“Yes the business is there, it’s growing and sustainable. What we need to do is to ask ourselves how we can tap into this process because if we don’t do anything, the business will go to other countries like India, Egypt and the Philippines” said Muriuki Mureithi, a consultant.
