Inside Konza Technopolis: CEO John Paul Okwiri Speaks on How Kenya Is Building a Future-Ready Smart City

In this section of the interview, John Paul Okwiri, CEO of Konza Technopolis, introduces the vision behind Kenya’s flagship smart city and its central role in the country’s digital revolution. Positioned as the African Silicon Savannah, Konza is aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 to transition the nation into a middle-income economy through an innovation-driven ecosystem. Okwiri highlights the city’s focus on three key clusters: ICT-enabled services, life sciences, and engineering, all powered by strategic investment and R&D.

He further shares that Phase One infrastructure has been fully completed, with over 100 out of 147 land parcels allocated to investors. The city now boasts essential utilities such as clean water treatment, stormwater drainage, power regulation, and high-speed internet connectivity. Notably, the establishment of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and a Tier III National Data Centre sets the foundation for a thriving knowledge economy. Konza’s commitment to creating over 17,000 jobs and fostering startups and digital solutions underlines its status as a ready-to-invest, plug-and-play smart city in Africa.

“Konza Technopolis is ready. We are a Special Economic Zone offering both physical and non-physical incentives, including tax reliefs and other government support. We are a plug-and-play environment, ready to welcome investors in ICT, ICT-enabled services, life sciences, and engineering. This is the right time to come in—Konza is not just a project, it’s the future,” says John Paul Okwiri.