@murchr..my queries on KICTANET have not received an answer yet.

If you are in the know on where and when the next meeting will be, post it hapa hapa.

Also, i hope the Konza site can have more detailed info e.g minutes of previous meetings , date and venue for next meeting etc.

Allow me to post one of the answers from ICT Board

[The idea of a new city and in this case a tech city in Kenya, adjacent to the capital might seem like overkill, if not unwise. It is always prudent, certainly economical and plausible to start with a small initiative and then mushroom according developments and growth that come along. However, you would have to know the conditions and the true criteria surrounding this new city as to see the motivation.

The new city proposal in many respects is 'killing two birds with one stone'. Nairobi the capital is experiencing tremendous growth and its truly busting out of its seams. The population in that city is becoming a greater concern on a daily basis. The morning and afternoon commute average 2 if not 3 hrs each. Anybody in the U.S, particularly the eastern seaboard, is aware that a two hour journey will usually take you to another city if not state; a distance of about 100 miles give or take. The 2 hr commutes are movements from residences to work places usually 16 to 32 km or 10 to 20 miles. Traffic is horrendous.

The government is currently expanding on roads and perhaps new transport initiatives. The public transport system has been alive and kicking since the beginning. Perhaps a new shuttle or rail system might alleviate the issue. The underlying problem is that Nairobi host about 3 million residents with an annual growth of 4 to 5% all occupying a 685 km^2 area. Its not complicated then to understand that capital city as it stands will soon be inept to carter for its masses unless something is done. This new city is thus a solution to population growth.

Now technology, education, youth, entrepreneurship and zeal are lending to the second and more exciting venture for the new city. Kenya hosts a burgeoning technical community as can be observed at http://www.ihub.co.ke . The start ups and ventures that are sprouting all over the city, and the access to new telecommunications and computing technology is evidence of an eager and educated young population, though concentrated in and around the city limits. The scale is nowhere near Silicon Valley, but surely the two cannot be compared.

While silicon Valley pioneered several innovations and the growth of IT, Kenya is at a juncture where it is assimilating all this technology and knowledge, using it and developing organic solutions to its own issues and transcending them to the globe, e.g Ushahidi. Konza City, hence can be compared to HITEC city in Hyderabad, India. So not only is the new city a population solution it has a purpose of harnessing the nations technological resources.

Now if you took the time to analyze the governments plans for the new city (www.konzacity.co.ke), it would be clear that there will be foundations and phased construction of the city. It can be expected that after the city foundations (infrastructure and amenities) and the first phases have been laid, occupation will commence, allowing for a start in ROI. You can expect adjustments to come about as a result of accommodating new residents.

The barrier that Kenya as a whole would have to overcome is the ever surrounding and infiltrating society 'impoverisher' known as graft. Right now this idea is observed with beloved curiosity, yet history won't allow us to hold our breath. Kenyans will have to call upon and really demand accountability. It will be incredibly sad if this project is marred with corruption and swindling schemes.

Paul]

@ murchr..as a real estate project,Konza is perfect. Infact i have done a few real estate feasibility studies in that area and I can assure you this is the perfect location for Nairobi city extension.
As an ICT Hub, its also a very good location in the future once Universities move in there and create a sizeable population.

As a real estate project done using tax payers money, i need clarification.

Ministry of info has bought 5000 acres costing kes 1 B of tax payer money.

Ministry of Info leases the same land to potential investors/Kenyans.

1. Is it proper for Ministry of Info to buy and lease land using tax payer money or will it end at Khalwale's table in PAC?

Is Ministry of Info allowed by law to invest in real estate i.e buy and lease land? Does it have the necessary technical capacity to develop and manage a city as a Ministry or will it outsource to Ministry of Lands/Local Govt/Private sector?

2.What is the net effect to the economy when a ministry uses tax payer money to buy land then lease to its citizens?

3. What is the procedure for anyone to lease the land?
How much is the lease?
AG Muigai raised issues regarding procurement.He said the procurement should be open to all and the highest bidder gets the lease as opposed to selective leasing.
Have these issues been taken care of so that tax payers dont loose money to large international corporate/corrupt deals who have been corruptly selected?
4. Why are London based architects /engineers being used instead of Kenyan?
5. How come Worldbank/IFC is the lead financial advisor yet we have not seen the money it has put in so far? So far what we are seeing is the KES 1 B tax payer money in play.Are there Kenyan financial advisors with the same skill who can advice Ministry of Info?

6. EAPCement has 14000 acres next to Konza which could have been used to accomodate the city hence free the kes 1b for ICT infrastructure.Was this considered?

I read this from one of the links "For the techpreneurs the final take was, do your thing; focus on building a great service or product and figuring out who will pay you for it in Africa. “Konza” is where your market is."

@murchr..hehehe..relax..ati same old story..no need to burst a vein coz of this..i have knocked on his twitter door..i hope he will answer me.