Konza by night: Building Africa’s 24-hour tech city

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 26 – For workers reporting for shifts, investors running round-the-clock operations and young Kenyans seeking opportunities in technology and manufacturing, Konza Technopolis has been designed around an ambitious promise: a city where economic activity does not stop when the sun goes down.

The vision for Kenya’s Silicon Savannah is to create an integrated urban centre where people can live, work and play while businesses, research institutions and industries drive innovation, investment and employment around the clock.

John Paul Okwiri, Chief Executive Officer of the Technopolis Development Authority, says operating 24 hours a day is essential to accelerating the city’s development, supporting investors and sustaining its growth.

“We are building Africa’s Silicon Savannah, so it means that we have to operate 24-7 to facilitate our investors and ensure that the development of the technopolis continues,” Okwiri says.

Spread across 5,000 acres, Konza has a completed master plan and approximately 40 kilometres of internal roads. Other foundational investments include a solid waste management system, a wastewater reclamation facility and electricity infrastructure designed to support businesses and future development.

The National Data Centre is already operational, supporting the government’s digital transformation agenda, while the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has been completed and operationalised as a graduate-level research institution focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Open University of Kenya, Riara University and the African Centre for Technology Studies are also among the institutions establishing a presence in the technopolis, bringing together academia, government and industry to strengthen research and innovation.With foundational infrastructure in place, the authority is focusing on attracting private investment to build commercial facilities.

Manufacturing is expected to be a major driver of Konza’s 24-hour economy. An export processing zone is being developed to accommodate factories producing textiles, electronics, solar products and related accessories.

Okwiri says one investor has planned to recruit up to 10,000 workers for its operations, highlighting the potential for industrial investments to create employment as more facilities come on board.

The technopolis is also pursuing a biopharmaceutical park through a public-private partnership, while a Digital Media City is in development to expand opportunities in technology and creative industries.

These investments are expected to diversify employment opportunities and support Kenya’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy.

For a city to operate around the clock, workplaces must be complemented by housing, transport and amenities that make everyday life convenient for residents. According to Okwiri, 10,000 housing units have been committed for development, with the first 1,000 expected to be ready by November 2026.

The master plan adopts a 15-minute neighbourhood approach, with amenities intended to be accessible within a short walk. Walking routes, cycling lanes and a mass transit corridor designed for electric buses are also incorporated into the city’s layout.

For Konza, a city that never sleeps means more than keeping offices open at night. It means building an ecosystem where infrastructure, innovation, manufacturing and urban life work together to expand opportunities for Kenyans.