NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya has just inked a significant $284.1 million deal with South Korea to build a cutting-edge Digital Media City at Konza Technopolis.
This ambitious project aims to position Kenya as a leading hub for Africa’s creative and content industries, unlocking vast opportunities for the nation’s burgeoning creative sector.
Establishing Africa’s Silicon Savannah
The Konza Digital Media City (DMC) is set to revolutionize Kenya’s creative industry. Eng. John Tanui, Principal Secretary for Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy, highlighted the significance of this milestone:
“This financing agreement will help us realize our dream of developing Africa’s Silicon Savannah and secure our place in the fast-evolving creative sector,” he said.
Spanning 160 acres, the DMC will feature multimedia training institutes, digital media enterprises, postproduction studios for gaming and animation, and facilities for music production.
This top-tier digital media hub will also offer professional training in gaming, animation, filming, photography, and software development.
Additionally, the center will host film studios, broadcasting stations, and research centers dedicated to pioneering innovation in digital media content.
Driving Job Creation and Innovation
With its youthful, tech-savvy population, Kenya is targeting the creative and digital economy to drive job creation.
The DMC is expected to create around 5,000 new jobs annually, connecting with the digital hubs initiative to develop 1,450 digital hubs nationwide.
This will foster a robust ecosystem supporting creatives across Kenya.
The rise in local content demand, driven by the Communication Authority of Kenya’s requirement for a minimum of 40 percent local content, has further bolstered the broadcasting sector.
The Konza DMC is set to propel Kenya’s creative industry forward, driving job creation, content monetization, and technological advancement.
“Konza Digital Media City is envisioned as a one-stop ecosystem for content creation and development,” said John Paul Okwiri, CEO of Konza Technopolis.
“This project is made possible with support from key government agencies and private sector players.”
Global Partnerships and Future Prospects
The signing of this financing agreement aligns with Kenya’s pursuit of global partnerships with established media industry players.
During a recent state visit to the United States, President William Samoei Ruto toured Tyler Perry Studios, one of the world’s largest creative content facilities.
Eng. Tanui emphasized the immense opportunities ahead: “Africa has barely scratched the surface in content and media. Konza DMC is designed to facilitate the creation, adaptation, and application of creative knowledge by providing state-of-the-art facilities and incentives for growth in the creative industries. We will work collaboratively with private sector players to realize this vision.”
The Konza Digital Media City project is part of the Korea Knowledge Sharing and Economic Investment Partnership Program (EIPP) between Kenya and South Korea.
Funded through the Korea Exim Bank, this cooperation framework supports infrastructure and urban development projects.
Korea has also backed the establishment of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Ke-AIST), a postgraduate university for science and technology.
