Kenya has reportedly secured funding of worth 67.5 billion shillings ($666 million) from China for the construction of a data center, the president’s office announced on Friday, reported Reuters.
The data center in question will be built in a tech city in Konza, which is currently under construction close to the capital Nairobi and a highway in the city.
The Konza project entails the development of core infrastructure including a National Cloud Data Centre, a Smart ICT Network, a Public Safe City and Smart Traffic Solution, and a Government Cloud and Enterprise Service. It is part of the Konza Techno City project which was started in 2008. It is aimed at developing technology-intensive and high-tech industries in ICT, biotechnology and e-commerce.
Telecommunications giant Huawei and the JKIA-James Gichuru expressway have signed the two project delivery agreements worth Sh67 billion for the Konza Data Centre and Smart Cities Project. China will provide the new funding to Kenya in loans at low-interest rates and partnerships with private firms.
According to the statement from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s office, Huawei will develop the Konza project at a cost of 17.5 billion shillings. It was issued from Beijing, where President Kenyatta is attending the second Belt and Road Forum.
The remaining 50 billion shillings will be used to build the Nairobi’s JKIA- James Gichuru expressway in the capital linking the main airport with the suburbs, to be carried out by China Road and Bridge Corporation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is currently in China for the second Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum. During the opening ceremony of the BRI forum at the China National Convention Centre in central Beijing, the Kenyan president addressed a high-level session attended by his host, President Xi Jinping. He thanked China for projects that are expanding economic activities and unlocking the potential for prosperity in Kenya and other developing countries.
