Konza City gets Ksh38B to set up Digital Media City

 Kenya has signed a Ksh38 billion ($284.1 million) financial agreement with Korea for the construction of a Digital Media City at Konza Technopolis expected to position Kenya as a creative and content industry leader in Africa.

This comes on the backdrop of revenues of over $2 billion in sales from Kenya’s creative industry in 2023. The industry is projected to grow annually at 10.3 percent.

“We are happy to note that this financing agreement will lead to the realisation of our dream to develop the Africa’s Silicon Savannah and secure its place in the fast-evolving creative sector. The Creative sector in digital era presents a great opportunity for Kenyan creatives to scale their talent and creative skills to the world map.” Eng. John Tanui, the Principal Secretary for Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy said during the signing ceremony.

Konza Digital Media City (DMC) project is set to be established on a 160 acre parcel of land aims to develop a top tier digital media hub by establishing both the critical infrastructure and programs needed to unlock the opportunity that the creative sector in a digital economy presents. The facility will host, among others, multi-media training institutes, digital media enterprises, postproduction studios (gaming and animation), and music production, among other digital media content.

Additionally, the Konza Digital Media City will offer professional level skilling and commercial services in gaming, animation, filming, photography, and entertainment and software development. It will also host film studios, broadcasting stations, and innovators incorporating latest cutting edge research,  training, propagation of new technologies, innovation,    production      of digital media content and entertainment facilities.

Once completed the DMC is expected to create an average of 5,000 new jobs annually. This Facility will have linkages to digital hubs initiative that seeks to develop 1450 digital hubs developing the most robust ecosystem supporting creatives in the country. Kenya is also pursuing global partnerships with established media industry players. During the recent state visit by President William Samoei Ruto to the United States of America, he visited the Tyler Perry Studios, one of the biggest creative content creation facilities.

The financing agreement of the Konza Digital Media City is part of the Korea Knowledge sharing and Economic Investment Partnership Program (EIPP) between Kenya and South Korea. The project will be financed through the Korea Exim bank under a cooperation model framework that finances infrastructure and urban development related projects.

Under the EIPP, Korea has supported the establishment of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Ke-AIST), a post graduate University for science and technology.