http://www.nation.co.ke/.../-/12lsurw/-/index.html

The 1.2 billion shillings is to be paid to an american firm for management. This money is to be paid by tax payers. This service can be offered by Kenyan firms. Looks like Konza is still a long way to be realised.

With Mr Kibaki and his technology point man, Dr Bitange Ndemo, out of office, Konza seemed to lose steam. 2013 closed without the promised construction taking off as key legislation stalled.

At a forum last month, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana complained that the allocations made in the Jubilee government’s first budget barely scratched the surface of what is needed to be done. In the 2013/2014 budget, Konza was allocated Sh793 million.

The project is expected to cost Sh800 billion over two decades. Most of this will come from the private sector partners but the government is expected to invest heavily in basic infrastructure.

Prof Kibwana called on President Kenyatta to take a more proactive role in steering its development.

While Konza has stalled, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua is forging ahead with his own techno city, which some stakeholders see as rivalling Konza.

Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) CEO Catherine Adeya says apart from financial constraints, the major challenge has been getting approvals from various government agencies especially land approvals to carry out activities at the Konza City land.

She says there was need to address bureaucracy in holistic manner by all government ministries to ensure the Vision 2030 project is developed within the set timelines.

“I will be frank with you, we have lost one or two investors to Ethiopia and we have had another one who has been very keen on going to Kigali,” Adeya regretted.Adeya says it was time all government ministries and Kenyans at large embraced the project to avoid losing investors to other countries which are also developing smart techno cities.

We have lost one or two investors to Ethiopia and we have had another one who has been very keen on going to Kigali,” Adeya regretted.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 29 – Kenya is likely to lose major investors who are interested in setting up businesses at the Konza City, if delays in developing basic infrastructure continue.

Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) CEO Catherine Adeya says apart from financial constraints, the major challenge has been getting approvals from various government agencies especially land approvals to carry out activities at the Konza City land.

She says there was need to address bureaucracy in holistic manner by all government ministries to ensure the Vision 2030 project is developed within the set timelines.

“I will be frank with you, we have lost one or two investors to Ethiopia and we have had another one who has been very keen on going to Kigali,” Adeya regretted.

Adeya says it was time all government ministries and Kenyans at large embraced the project to avoid losing investors to other countries which are also developing smart techno cities.

“We have had others talk about Hope City in Ghana but again they came back to Kenya because Konza City is at a strategic place. Some are willing to wait, but again they can only wait for so long,” she said. “Yes I do try and keep them happy, but also it cannot go on for too long because whatever Kenya is doing other people are trying to replicate.”

But now small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have lined up to take space at the Konza city as they seek to benefit from tax incentives, tap knowledge from multinational firms and higher learning institutions that will be housed in the 5,000-acre site.

Craft Silicon, Kooba through East Africa Capital Partners (EACP), JamboPay, NaiLab and TechnoBrain are among the firms that have expressed interest for space at Konza.

Craft Silicon is seeking 10-acre of land where it plans to invest Sh1.5 billion.

Venture capital fund, EACP, intends to build a Sh1 billion data centre — Kooba — and is seeking 2.5 acres. While JamboPay plans to invest Sh450 million.

Kenya and South Korea will Tuesday sign a pact that will see the Asian nation put Sh10 billion towards construction of a public research university at Konza Techno City as President Park Geun-hye starts her two-day visit to Nairobi.

Ministry of Education officials are Tuesday morning expected to ink the deal with Korean Export and Import (Exim) Bank that will open the way for Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kaist) to set shop at Konza.

Kaist is a public research university for the industrialised Asian nation, which Kenya is keen to emulate.