Ruto Officially Opens Konza Technopolis, the Silicon Savannah of Kenya
On 13 October 2025, Kenyan President William Ruto officially opened Phase One of the Konza Technopolis, which is also dubbed as the Silicon Savannah. As a flagship project under #KenyaVision2030, the Konza #Technopolis positions itself to be an investment destination and innovation hub for driving digital and knowledge economy while incorporating sustainable practices and state-of-the-art technologies.
As part of the Phase One, several facilities are already in operation, including the 120 MW Power Distribution Substation, the Solid Waste Management Facility, the Intelligent Operations Center, and the Timbuktoo GreenTech Hub. From the Intelligent Operations Center, one can monitor the Smart City with 500 cameras already deployed. The system also incorporates #AI technologies for intelligent image processing in order to enhance safety.
During the ceremony, Ruto also laid the foundation stone for the Affordable Housing Complex of the Konza #SmartCity which consists of 10,000 modern housing units, along with associated amenities such as schools and hospitals. Another batch of 3,000 units is already under construction. The close proximity of houses, offices, and amenities is in line with the smart philiosophy to have an integrated space to live, work, and play in order to reduce the carbon footprint caused by long commutes.
“Konza Technopolis represents the spirit of our new Kenya, innovative, forward-looking, and globally competitive. The investments we are witnessing here today are a testament to our vision of transforming Kenya into a digital powerhouse.”
Kenya President William Ruto
Legally, the Konza Technopolis is classified as a Special Economic Zone (#SEZ) with the same incentive scheme. Thus, companies setting in Konza will pay a lower 10% corporate tax, and enjoy VAT and Stamp Duty exemptions on goods and services within the Zone.
The Government of Kenya has created the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) as a one-stop shop to accompany investors and manage the harmonious growth of the Zone. Currently, 80% of the commercial space in Phase One have already been allocated to various investors and 3,500 jobs have been created in the Konza Technopolis.
President Ruto also seized the opportunity to set up a National Infrastructure Fund amounting to multi-trillion Kenyan shilling, broken down as follows : Electricity KES 1T, Dams, KES 1.5T, Roads KES 1.5T. Among the flagship projects are the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (#SGR) and the upgrade of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.