Row on new borders of Konza techno-city to delay plan

A master plan for the Sh800 billion Konza Technology City in Machakos County. [Photo: File/Standard]

By ONESMUS NZIOKA

KENYA: Confusion over the location of the Konza techno-city could delay the development of the multi-million project.

The location of the proposed techno-city is now the subject of a tussle between Makueni and Machakos counties, both claiming ownership of the city.

Initially documents from the ministry of Lands and that of Information indicated that a larger portion of the city would be in Makueni County, with Machakos and Kajiado enjoying the 10km buffer zone.

However, a new map from the Lands ministry seen by The Standard, titled Konza Technocity Buffer Zone Regulation Plan indicates that the site of the city has completely been carved from Makueni and lamped in Machakos County.

The new map is dated June 6, 2013, and according to Kilome MP Regina Ndambuki, this is the final map that will guide development of the city.

The new development has seen an alteration of the old Machakos/Makueni boundaries, carving the whole Malili location from Makueni to Machakos, taking with it the whole techno-city site.

The latest development has created a heated exchange between leaders of the two counties.

Kilome MP Regina Ndambuki on Monday led a group of Makueni residents in protesting the alleged relocation of the city to Machakos County at Malili town (See photo above).

“I went to the ministry of Lands to get the latest on the development of the Konza city. I was shocked to realise the city was no longer in Makueni,” she said.

Ndambuki is accusing Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua of masterminding the relocation of the technopolis site after allegedly failing to secure the 4,000 acres of land he had promised investors.

Malili chief’s office

She said Makueni and Kajiado governors have been meeting with Mutua and the Information Cabinet Secretary, yet they have never raised alarm over the anomaly.

A gazette notice of the completion of the Konza plan, released on June 14, 2013, indicated that the three governors had been furnished with the complete development plan.

The notice, signed by the Director of Physical Planning Augustine Masinde reads in part, “notice is hereby given that preparation of the above development plan was completed on May 27, 2013.” “A copy of the development plan has been deposited for public inspection at the office of the chief Malili, director of physical planning Nairobi, office of the County physical planning officers and governors’ offices,” the notice reads.

However, residents of Makueni County who spoke to The Standard said they have never been made aware of the existence of such a plan.

Makueni Speaker Stephen Ngelu said there was no such notice in any Makueni office, adding that if it was released, then someone must have ‘sat on it’.

Ndambuki has called for immediate suspension of all works within the technopolis site until a solution to the boundary row is found.

Governor Mutua, through his County Secretary Francis Mwaka, denied the allegations of altering the boundaries. “It is unfortunate that such remarks are coming from law makers, who clearly know the process of altering boundaries,” said Mwaka.