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Kibaki set to launch Sh850bn Konza tech city in January

Konza

An impression of the Konza ICT Park in Malili, Machakos. Photo/FILE

The groundbreaking ceremony of Kenya’s first techno city is scheduled for next month setting the stage for the development of the Sh850 billion project to kick off.

According to a senior official at the Ministry of Information and Communications, the multi-billion Konza ICT Park project will be launched by President Kibaki on January 23.

“This will set the ground for the actual development of the city to begin,” Konza Technology City Business Process Outsourcing director of administration Henry Mung’asia told KNA Friday.

The announcement comes barely a week after the president appointed career investment banker John Ngumi to lead the development of the multi-billion technology city setting the pace for the recruitment of the project’s board and chief executive officer.

READ: Kibaki names investment banker to drive Konza tech city

Mr Ngumi will chair the Konza Technopolis Development Authority - the State-owned body set up in March this year to regulate, monitor and evaluate the development of the ICT park.

Information and Communication minister Samuel Poghisio said the ministry has engaged the International Finance Corporation as the transaction advisor of the project which is financed through a partnership between the government and the private sector.

It is understood that IFC has already contracted UK firm, Pell Frischmann Consultants to prepare a concept master plan to guide the development of city.

“Pell Frischmann already delivered a concept master plan showing the broad proposals on the development which is being harmonised into a realistic action plans for immediate implementation,” Mr Poghisio said.

The groundbreaking of the technology city has been postponed many times over the past two years over what the Information and Communications permanent secretary termed as delay in getting key approvals.

READ: Launch ceremony for Sh900bn ICT park next month

The tech park will sit on 5,000 acres in Malili Ranch situated in both Machakos and Makueni counties, 60 kilometres from Nairobi.