The National Government has suspended the issuance of new development permits around Konza Technopolis within a 10 kilometres radius for a period of 90 days.
It was an agreement between the Counties of Machakos, Makueni and Kiajiado and the National Government to halt the process to enable a newly constituted Inter-County Joint Physical and Land Use Planning Committee.
An Inter-County Physical and Land Use Development Plan will be developed to provide guidelines and standards for regulation of land use practices and general development within the zone.
The agreement was signed by respective county secretaries Hon. Hamilton Parseina, County Executive Committee Member Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Development & Municipalities County Government of Kajiado, Hon. Julius Mulwa Kaloi County Executive Committee Member, Lands, Urban Development, Environment and Climate Change County Government of Makueni and Hon. Evelyne Kavuu Mutie, County Executive Committee Member Energy, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, County Government of Machakos.
Speaking in a meeting attended by Governors of the three counties, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiangí said there was need for governments to work together in protecting the ecosystem around Konza Technopolis so as to deliver value to investors and properties around the Special Planning Zone.
“Konza is now evidence of what happens when Government leaders at all levels work together and focus on things that matter. What matters is delivering this project to the people of Kenya,” said CS Matiangi.
The government resolved to complete the buffer zone plan within the notice period for the resumption of developments on July 1, 2021.
It will provide basic guidelines and standards for regulation of land use practices and general development while controlling activities for the respective counties bordering the Technopolis.
It will also guide developers and property owners on acceptable standards.
The three counties in consultation with the national government will provide a mutually agreed spatial development framework for symbiotic and sustainable co-existence between the Konza Technopolis and the adjacent areas falling within the jurisdiction of the three counties.
The Committee has been designed to see through the exercise and it comprises the respective County Executive Committee Members responsible for physical and land use planning matters, two other relevant County Executive Committee Members, co-opted representatives from the relevant National Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (including the Konza Technopolis Development Authority) and the Director-General of Physical and Land Use Planning who shall be the ex-officio member and coordinator of the planning activities.
Formulation of the Inter-County Physical and Land Use Development Plan will largely entail the review of the Approved Development Plan No. 03 (Konza Techno City Buffer Zoning Plan Ref. No. 2564/2013/01) and will adopt a highly participatory and consultative process.
The committee was constituted pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019. The buffer zone physical planning and development control will become part of the work of the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee (NDICCC ).
