Kalonzo wants more resources allocated to Konza City

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka (pictured) wants more resources allocated to the ongoing construction of Konza Technology City to ensure timely completion.

He said the completion of the multi-billion technopolis would transform Ukambani’s economy and create thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities.

Kalonzo, who toured the project yesterday alongside 10 MPs from Eastern cited water scarcity as a major hindrance to the city’s realisation.

“One of the facilities that is critical to Konza is Thwake Dam, which is only 42 per cent complete and yet it is expected to be the primary source of water for Konza. At such a pace, the whole project will be crawling,” said Kalonzo.

He urged the Konza Technopolis Authority to initiate the second phase of construction of a water pipeline from Thwake Dam, which stands about 70 kilometers away.

Coming years

Kalonzo equally urged the government to consider acquiring more land for purposes of expansion, saying the current 5,000 acres the project was sitting on would be insufficient in coming years.

Konza Technopolis CEO John Tanui, who made a presentation to the delegation, revealed the initial two phases of the project were nearing completion. The phases contain a data center and offices.

“Konza Techno City will be one of the best-designed cities in the region and will be home to the largest data center in East and Central Africa,” Said Tanui.

Tanui said the city’s phase one project which sits on 400 acres of land will have a 40-kilometer network of roads, utility tunnels, electricity and sewer lines.

“We are also constructing a total of 170 kilometer stormwater drainage and water supply lines as well as an automated and pressurized 15-kilometer system of solid waste management,” he said.