The Technopolis Development Authority has opened a national competition inviting Kenyan creatives aged 18 to 35 to design the logo for the newly established state agency, as it seeks a new identity reflecting its expanded mandate beyond Konza Technopolis.
The competition, themed “Designing the Symbol of Kenya’s Innovation Future,” is open to young designers across all 47 counties. Entries are currently open, with the closing date expected to be announced in September 2026 through the official competition portal.
The change means the Authority now needs an institutional identity distinct from Konza Technopolis, the smart city project it continues to oversee. Konza remains the Authority’s flagship project, but its responsibilities now extend to technopolis development across the country.
Chief Executive Officer John Paul Okwiri said the competition is intended to give young Kenyan designers a role in defining the Authority’s new identity.
“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,” Okwiri said. “This is more than a logo competition; it is an opportunity for young designers to shape a national identity for the environments where innovation, enterprise, research and investment can thrive.”
Participants are required to submit a primary logo mark, a black-and-white version and applications showing how the design works on both light and dark backgrounds. Entries must also include a concept explanation of up to 150 words and three sample applications, such as a letterhead, social media profile or building signage.
The Authority said it is seeking a visual concept that can be developed into a wider institutional identity, rather than requiring entrants to produce a complete brand manual.
The competition has a total prize fund of KES 1 million, with KES 300,000 going to the winner. Other shortlisted designers will also receive cash prizes, with the remaining award details to be published through the competition portal.
Selected participants will additionally have access to mentorship from creative professionals covering areas such as brand identity, design thinking and creative entrepreneurship.
The competition is being run through the Authority’s Jitume Digital Enablement Programme, which has focused on expanding young Kenyans’ access to digital skills and opportunities in the digital economy.
The new identity comes as the Authority assumes responsibilities that extend beyond the development of Konza Technopolis. Under the Technopolis Act, 2026, it is mandated to support technopolis infrastructure development, facilitate investor access to land, provide one-stop regulatory and licensing services, and coordinate research and innovation ecosystems with universities and private-sector partners.
“Our mandate is not only to manage a city,” Okwiri said. “It is to build and sustain the institutional platform that turns Kenya’s investment in technopolises into measurable, broad-based economic value, and this identity will represent that mandate to the country and the world.”
The winning design is expected to be unveiled later this year as part of the launch of the Technopolis Development Authority’s new visual identity.
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