KONZA TECHNOPOLIS CITY – KENYA

We live in a world that is moving very fast thanks to new ideas and new inventions, there is always a danger of being left behind. It is challenging enough if you are used to having the latest smartphone and applications that open up opportunities and provide answers in an instant or offer short-cuts and easy access to various platforms.

In Africa, the foundation of digital infrastructure must be strengthened to broaden access to new opportunities. This calls for increased public investment and frameworks to encourage more private investment to improve digital access for underserved groups and areas.

The digital divide remains particularly wide in some regions in Africa. Stronger digital infrastructure and literacy will be crucial for these places as technological change forces a shift away from growth models reliant on low-skill, low-wage manufacturing.

Investment in education and training programs should be boosted and reoriented to emphasize skills that complement the new technologies. This will require innovation in the content, delivery, and financing of these programs, including new models of public-private partnerships.

With the fast-changing demand for skills and the growing need for upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning, the availability and quality of continuing education should be greatly scaled up. The potential of technology-enabled solutions such as online learning tools must be harnessed. Persistent inequalities in access to education and (re)training must be addressed. While gaps in basic capabilities across income groups have narrowed, those in higher-level capabilities that will drive success in the digital economy are widening.

Konza Technopolis City, Kenya

Located 60km from the center of Nairobi, Konza Techno City in Kenya is already famous as the “Silicon Valley of Africa”. The Kenyan government plans to complete the techno city sometime after 2030. The proposed satellite city will gather data from smart devices and sensors embedded in roadways and buildings, enabling optimization of traffic and infrastructure, smart communication services, and improved citizen participation.

According to its Smart City plan, Konza’s population will have direct access to collected data, including things like traffic maps, emergency warnings, and energy and water consumption. The availability of data will enable Konza’s population to participate directly in the operations of the city, practice more sustainable living patterns, and enhance overall inclusiveness. The site, spread across 5,000 acres, will not only be a center of technology and education but will provide new homes and leisure activities with shopping malls and other amenities. Kenya’s ICT sector continues to grow and is a world leader for mobile tech. The country wants this new “technopolis” to be a catalyst for the economy.

With all the efforts and plannings for it, Konza Technopolis City is one of the smartest cities in Africa.