US firm to manage Kenya’s Konza techno city

GOVERNMENT

By Semaj Itosno, Nairobi, Kenya

A US firm has clinched deal to manage Kenya’s USD10 billion techo city.

HR & A Advisors edged out five other bidder,s including AECOM International Development of Finland, Swedish Sweco International, Dohwa Consulting Engineers from Korea and and New-York based SHoP Architects.

HR & A Advisors’ mandate will entail coming up with a detailed business plan and a partnership document of how the interested investors and the government will relate.

The tendering process was undertaken by the World Bank and the International Finance Cooperation.

Kenya has also given the Swedish government the nod to set up a science park in the multibillion Konza technology city.

Ministry of Information and Communication permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo said on Tuesday the Swedish government had won the sub- contract due its expertise in developing science parks and attracting investors.

Ndemo said general construction at the USD10 billion park will begin in October this year and the project shall be manned by a regulatory body, Konza City development Authority (KTDA).

The body will regulate all developments in the park.

Ndemo was speaking during the ongoing Konza investors’ conference in Nairobi.

The conference has brought together investors from Europe, US, Asia and Africa to discuss opportunities in the Eastern Africa’s first techno polis, a city built specifically for technology firms.

China’s Shanghai (Group) Corporation for Foreign Economic & Technological Cooperation (SFECO) intends to put up roads, water and other social amenities.

The Smart Villages of Egypt, the Korea Business Center among others have also expressed interest in the project.