The Technopolis Development Authority wants Kenya’s young creatives to design the identity it now needs, and it’s putting that job to any Kenyan between 18 and 35.
Formerly the Konza Technopolis Development Authority, it now oversees technopolises across the country, a shift from its earlier mandate of managing a single flagship city.
That expansion is the main reason for the logo competition. The identity was built around one project, Konza Technopolis, but it now needs to represent a wider national mandate.
This includes allocating land to investors, providing a one-stop shop for regulatory and licensing services, and supporting research partnerships with universities and private companies. The old branding no longer reflects this broader role.
Rather than commission a design house, the Authority is running the competition through its Jitume Digital Enablement Program, which it says has already reached over one million young Kenyans with digital skills training and work opportunities.
Dubbed “Designing the Symbol of Kenya’s Innovation Future,” the contest is open in all 47 counties, with submissions due by a closing date still to be announced on the competition portal this month.
Entrants must submit a primary logo mark, a black-and-white version, light and dark background applications, a concept explanation capped at 150 words, and three sample applications such as a letterhead, a social media profile, and building signage.
A full brand manual isn’t required yet; the Authority says it’s looking for a strong visual concept it can build out later.
READ: Why Konza Technopolis Has Struggled to Win Global Tech Investors
The total prize pool is KES 1 million, with the winner taking home KES 300,000 and shortlisted entrants splitting the rest, details of which will be published on the portal.
Beyond cash, selected participants get mentorship from working creative professionals, covering brand identity development and design thinking, pitched as a route into sustainable careers in Kenya’s creative economy rather than a one-off payday.
CEO John Paul Okwiri framed the exercise as bigger than a rebrand.
“We are inviting Kenyan youth in the creative community to help shape the identity of the Technopolis Development Authority, an institution that represents where our country is going. The goal is to build and sustain the institutional platform that turns Kenya’s investment in technopolises into measurable, broad-based economic value.”
The winning entry is set to be unveiled publicly later this year, marking the formal launch of the Authority’s new visual identity alongside its expanded national mandate.
Full competition rules, eligibility requirements, and judging criteria are available on the official portal, with the submission deadline to be confirmed this month.
