Kenya struggles to give life to futuristic 'Silicon Savannah' city

Konza’s dream is to become a top business process outsourcing hub by 2030, with on-site universities training locals on tech-savvy skills. [Photo: Courtesy]

KONZA, Kenya- Labourers milled around an unfinished eight-storey building in an expansive field in Konza dotted with zebra and antelope - the only visible sign of progress in a decade-old plan to make Kenya into Africa’s leading technology hub by 2030.

Grandiose plans, red tape and a lack of funding have left Konza Technopolis - the $14.5 billion new city to be built some 60 km (37 miles) southeast of Nairobi - way behind schedule on its goal of having 20,000 people on site by 2020.