Africa is increasingly positioning itself as an attractive investment destination in the global tech landscape.
With a population of over one billion and a substantial talent pool, the continent represents a significant financial opportunity for investors.
In just 10 years, £15 billion has been invested in the continent, 68 percent of it in the last 3 years.
The Agence Française de Développement in 2023 wrote: “More tech companies are developing in Africa than in the rest of the world.”
One African country that is becoming a leading tech hub is Kenya, often called the “Silicon Savannah”.
Kenya boasts a thriving startup ecosystem supported by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit backed by the government.
Its economy is the largest in East Africa and has seen continued growth in GDP over the last few years.
The country’s commitment to digital transformation is exemplified in initiatives like Konza Technopolis, a smart city project and a key part of Kenya’s 2030 economic vision.
This smart city aims to be a centre for technological innovation in ICT, life sciences, and engineering.
The smart city will cost roughly £11 billion and cover over 2,000 hectares when fully completed.
The initial phase will see the development of 160 hectares, which will be built around 13,000 units accommodating up to 30,000 residents.
The city’s architectural design integrates solar power, rainwater collection and utilisation into its infrastructure.
Konza is being constructed just over 60km (37 miles) south of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.
With easy access to the port at Mombasa, Konza aims to create sustainable production capacity for export in the tech sector.
The city will also feature affordable residential homes, universities and student accommodation to go alongside its commercial buildings, offices, hotels and entertainment centres.
The ambitious plans have been hailed by some tech entrepreneurs, who view the project as a long-term government commitment to the tech sector.
Ken Mwenda, managing director at eMobilis Mobile Technology Academy, told The Guardian: “You need to start somewhere and [Konza] is that somewhere.
“There have been many other disjointed government efforts and initiatives but the scale of this project means that one would have to try hard not to notice that Kenya is seriously committed to its tech industry.”