There will now be a drone highway in Kenya, after the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) approved a proposal by the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) to establish one at the Konza Technolopolis, a smart city campus 60km outside the capital, Nairobi.

To be known as the Konza National Drone Corridor, the drone highway is set to be the first controlled airspace in Kenya dedicated specifically to Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, which KoTDA reckons will boost the country’s unmanned aviation and technology landscape.

“Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) is proud to announce the official approval of the Konza National Drone Corridor by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA),” the organization said in a statement.

“This pioneering initiative establishes Kenya’s first controlled airspace specifically dedicated to Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, marking a transformative milestone in the nation’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) ecosystem and solidifying its position as a leader in African technological advancement.”

John Paul Okwiri, the authority’s CEO, also described the landmark achievement as a major leap forward in Kenya’s efforts to build a robust unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) ecosystem and reinforces the country’s growing status as a leader in technological innovation across Africa.

“The establishment of this drone corridor within a smart city will spur significant economic growth by attracting investment, create new opportunities and also firmly position Konza Technopolis as the premier destination for African tech talent and enterprise to thrive,” Okwiri said.

The drone corridor, strategically located within the Konza Technopolis smart city, is designed to ensure safety and security while minimising risks to manned aircraft, people, property, and the environment.

It also provides a unique, bespoke environment that supports testing, training, research, and innovation, offering significant benefits to startups, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders.

The corridor was approved following a thorough and rigorous review process conducted by the aviation authority’s UAS Multi-Agency Route Committee.

There was no immediate information on the actual size of the corridor, but it will be on the second such establishment, after the Humanitaran Drone Testing Corridor in Kasungu, Malawi.

It is expected to accelerate the use of drones in Kenya’s key sectors that are critical to national development, including agriculture, healthcare deliveries, logistics, and disaster response.

Its design will allow for controlled BVLOS operations, enabling drones to conduct long-range missions effectively and safely, a feature that unlocks new possibilities for real-world applications.

Additionally, the corridor will reportedly promote a collaborative ecosystem where authorized operators, researchers, and training institutions can interact, share knowledge, and drive innovation.

Architect Annah Musyimi, Chief Manager of Physical Planning, Design, Compliance and Environment at Konza Technopolis, emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in unlocking the full potential of drone technology.

“We are incredibly excited to work hand-in-hand with innovators and organizations who share our mission to harness the immense potential of drone technology for positive societal impact,” she said.

KoTDA is now extending invitations to both local and international partners to leverage the opportunities offered by the newly launched drone zone.

The Konza Technopolis is a flagship project of the government of Kenya, developing as a Science Park and Area of Innovation within the largest smart city project in east and central Africa.

The technology innovation campus features a 5,000-acre master-planned city set to foster science, innovation, technology, and commercialization to drive economic growth.

In Nairobi, the place is popularly known as the “Silicon Savannah,” and aims to establish Kenya as a leading technology hub in Africa, through creating a sustainable, digitally driven city with state-of-the-art infrastructure.