Two ostriches at Konza Technopolis Handout
The 1,000-acre Konza Technopolis Wildlife Conservancy has provisionally been registered by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The milestone positions Konza Technopolis as the first and only purpose-built smart city in Africa with a formally registered wildlife conservancy.
Speaking following the registration, Technopolis Development Authority CEO John Okwiri said it marks a defining moment in their journey to build Africa’s leading smart city.
"This achievement demonstrates that technological advancement and environmental conservation are not competing priorities; they are complementary pillars of sustainable development.”
Okwiri added that as Konza Technopolis attracts investment, innovation, research institutions and world-class infrastructure, it remains equally committed to protecting biodiversity and preserving the natural heritage that makes Konza unique.
“This conservancy reflects our vision of creating a smart, resilient and inclusive city where people, nature and technology thrive together.”
Konza Technopolis is a flagship Smart City project under Kenya’s Vision 2030, the country’s long-term development blueprint aimed at transforming Kenya into a newly industrialising middle-income economy.
The conservancy forms part of the wider Athi-Kapiti ecosystem and provides habitat for key species, including the grey crowned crane, Rüppell’s griffon vulture, white-backed vulture, Maasai ostrich, Maasai giraffe, zebra and gazelles.
The newly registered conservancy will be maintained for a minimum of 15 years in compliance with KWS regulations, and will be supported by a comprehensive wildlife conservancy management plan that is already in place.
Beyond conservation, the registration unlocks significant opportunities in sustainable tourism and eco-tourism development, wildlife research and biodiversity conservation, carbon credit and climate-finance initiatives, environmental, social and governance-aligned investments, nature-based recreation and education, and premium eco-living developments.
The registration aligns with Kenya’s broader commitments to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable land use and green economic growth, establishing a direct synergy on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.
The SDG goal focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, while SDG 15 centres on the protection, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
The conservancy also directly supports Konza’s planned Luxury Eco-Living Zone, an 80-acre mixed-use development earmarked for bespoke villas, eco-lodges, premium holiday homes, and hospitality investments set within a protected natural landscape.
The milestone further demonstrates how future cities can integrate advanced digital infrastructure with ecological preservation to create resilient communities and long-term economic value.
Also known as Africa’s Silicon Savannah, Konza is a 5,000-acre, master-planned city designed to drive economic growth through science, technology, innovation, and knowledge-based industries.
Strategically located 65km southeast of Nairobi, the city is being developed as a leading science park and area of innovation with world-class infrastructure and a focus on sustainability and digital transformation where people can live, work, and play.
Konza Technopolis is envisioned to contribute at least 2 per cent to Kenya’s national GDP, positioning the country as a premier technology and innovation hub on the continent.
The Smart City is managed by the Konza Technopolis Development Authority under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy.
