Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has commissioned two key projects at the Konza Technopolis, a key flagship project of the country’s ambitious Vision 2030.
The President inaugurated an eight-story headquarters of Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), which is located in Machakos County.
Kenyatta also opened the National Data Centre located at the Technopolis.
The ultra-modern office block is expected to provide KoTDA staff and partners a conducive on-site working environment to support the accelerated roll-out of the techno city.
On the other hand, the data center will offer reliable infrastructure and business-friendly services through a superior ICT backbone.
The data center will host East Africa’s biggest data center, with a capacity of 1.6 petabytes, according to the Standard.
It is fully equipped with smart city facilities and services to support the technopolis, as well as developers and small enterprises.
Kenyatta said the progress signals the Government’s commitment to the completion of the country’s first smart city.
According to the Presidential Press Unit, the President was on an inspection tour of infrastructure projects implemented by the Government and partners at the technopolis.
“Our quest is to be a technology disrupter, M-Pesa set the pace; may the center that we commission today be an incubator for the next big-global technology disruption. Right here, made in Kenya for the World,” President Kenyatta said after his extensive tour of the technopolis.
When complete, the expansive Konza technology city which traverses three neighboring counties of Machakos, Makueni, and Kajiado will occupy 5,000-acres of land.
The President also announced that he will soon preside over the groundbreaking for the construction of Africa’s most modern science and technology university.
As an anchor project of the country’s Vision 2030 development blueprint, President Kenyatta said Konza is envisaged to be a world-class technology hub.
He added that the Coronavirus pandemic had taught the country the potential of ICT to insulate the economy from unforeseen disruptions.
“Upon completion of the project in the next few years, Kenya’s position as a global hub for science, technology, and innovation will be entrenched further. We have the chance, right now, in the global race to create high-tech jobs in the digital space,” the President said.
The Head of State reassured that Kenya’s journey towards becoming an industrialized middle-income country was on course.
He said that the projects being implemented across the country will not only bring development closer to the people but also build a robust foundation to catapult the country into the league of modern and prosperous nations in years to come.
“The challenge to each one of us is to continue doing our very best to bring Kenya’s great destiny into reality. This requires that we come together as one nation and one people, putting aside partisan interests and divides by building bridges between our communities,” he said.
He was accompanied by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru among other senior Government officials.
At the same time, the President appealed to politicians to put aside petty differences and individualism, saying those are vices that will prevent the country from achieving its development targets.
Speaking at the event, Odinga said the opening of the state-of-the-art data centre is a clear proof that with unity and working together the country will reach new levels of development much faster.
On his part, Musyoka assured President Kenyatta of his full backing as the Government rolls out development projects across the country and take services closer to Kenyans.
https://theexchange.africa/investing/konza-rolls-out-ecosystem-forum-to-drive-innovation/
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru thanked President Kenyatta for ensuring that the dream of Konza technopolis is realized through the various enabling infrastructure projects being implemented at the city.
Earlier, President Kenyatta presided over the official opening of the new Machakos county offices and convention centre.
The President was received and taken on a guided tour of the ultra-modern office complex by Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua.
