Kenya will be holding the first Drone Tech and Data Expo from May 29 to June 4.
The show has not been staged locally before, although it has made an appearance in other African countries, including Rwanda.
At a today’s meeting that a was attended by key leaders from the Transport and ICT Ministries, as well as the CEOs of Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) and Drone Space Kenya, it was revealed that the expo will round up more than 100 certified drone experts and enthusiasts from different parts of the world.
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The event will be organized by Drone Space Kenya, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), and KoTDA.
Program
The Drone Tech and Data Expo will kick off with a two-day conference that will take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on 30th & 31st May.
Then, the Last Mile Medical Delivery exercise will be held at the Konza Smart City Drone Corridor from 1st – 4th June 2022.
Participants in the exercise will be validated on various aspects including speed, flight accuracy, and safety as well as the uniqueness of their drone designs.
The participants will be tasked to explore multiple concepts of drone operation and data exchange across a designated 24-kilometre flight zone within the expansive Konza landscape.
ICT CS Joe Mucheru will be among the keynote speakers at the conference, which will be held under the theme: The Role of Drones and Data in Spurring Economic Growth in Kenya and the 4th Industrial Revolution in Africa.
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Expectations
Teams of authorized drone manufacturers and operators will have an opportunity to showcase their drone equipment and test their drones’ capability to deliver medicine during the drone validation exercise that will be held at the Konza Smart City in Machakos county.
Quotes
“The lack of proper infrastructure and public transportation systems poses immense challenges to development in Kenya and Africa at large. Drones have proven efficient and more cost-effective in leapfrogging the physical connectivity gap in Kenya,” adding that “drone technology can help deliver medical commodities such as vaccines, anti-venoms, blood as well as medical supplies in areas where there’s limited infrastructure,” said Drone Space Kenya’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Tony Mwangi.
“As Konza Technopolis, we are glad to participate and support the Kenya Drone Week Expo which is anchored on innovation and technology development which are some of the key pillars in our development. We see this sector as key in transforming our economy because it enables emerging solutions in the 4th industrial revolution,” said Konza Technolopis Development Authority CEO John Tanui.
“This event is an opportunity to share knowledge on the role drones can play in Kenya. As a country, we do not want to be left behind and the Ministry of Innovation & ICT is keen to deploy these technologies for the benefit of all Kenyans,” concluded Jerome Ochieng’, Principal Secretary Ministry of ICT & Innovation.
