Technopolis Development Authority Invites Kenyan Youth to Design New Logo in KSh1 Million Competition

By Gedion Nzyoki - 

Nairobi, September 2, 2026 — The Technopolis Development Authority has invited young Kenyan creatives and designers to help shape the identity of the newly established national agency through a nationwide logo design competition.

The competition, dubbed “Designing the Symbol of Kenya's Innovation Future,” seeks to tap into the creativity of Kenyan youth as the Authority transitions from its previous identity as the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA).

Authority Seeks New National Identity

The call follows the enactment of the Technopolis Act, 2026, which expanded the Authority’s mandate beyond Konza Technopolis to planning, developing, managing and promoting technopolises across Kenya.

Previously anchored around Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s flagship smart city, the Authority now has a broader national responsibility in advancing the country’s digital economy and innovation agenda.

The expanded mandate has prompted the need for a new institutional identity that is distinct from Konza Technopolis while maintaining the credibility associated with the project over more than a decade.

Kenyan Youth At The Centre Of Logo Design

Rather than engaging a professional design house, the Authority has opted for a participatory approach that gives young Kenyan creatives an opportunity to contribute to the development of its new identity.

The initiative will particularly leverage the Jitume Digital Enablement Programme, which has empowered more than one million young Kenyans with digital skills, access to digital work opportunities and pathways into the digital economy.

Technopolis Development Authority Chief Executive Officer John Paul Okwiri said the competition goes beyond designing a logo, describing it as an opportunity for young creatives to contribute to a national 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,” said Okwiri.

“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.”

Who Can Participate?

The competition is open to Kenyan creatives and designers aged between 18 and 35 years from all 47 counties.

Entries are already open, with the closing date expected to be announced during September 2026 through the official competition portal.

Participants are required to submit a primary logo mark, a black-and-white version and applications showing how the logo would appear on both light and dark backgrounds.

They must also provide a concept explanation of not more than 150 words and three sample applications, including options such as a letterhead, social media profile and building signage.

The Authority said participants do not need to develop a full brand manual at this stage, with emphasis instead placed on a strong visual concept that can be developed into a wider institutional identity.

Winner To Take Home KSh300,000

The competition has a total prize fund of KSh1 million, with the overall winner set to receive KSh300,000.

Shortlisted participants will also receive cash prizes, with the full prize structure expected to be published on the competition portal.

Beyond the financial rewards, selected participants will receive structured mentorship from experienced creative professionals.

The mentorship programme will expose emerging designers to brand identity development, design thinking and creative entrepreneurship, while supporting their development within Kenya’s growing creative economy.

The initiative is also aligned with Jitume’s broader objective of turning digital and creative skills into economic opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for young people.

Authority Takes On Broader Technopolis Mandate

Under the Technopolis Act, 2026, the Authority now has a strengthened statutory mandate covering the planning and development of technopolis infrastructure.

It will also be responsible for allocating land to investors, operating a one-stop shop for regulatory and licensing services and coordinating research and innovation ecosystems in collaboration with universities and the private sector.

The legislation also provides for the continuation of existing rights, contracts and obligations of the former Konza Technopolis Development Authority.

Okwiri said the Authority’s responsibilities now extend beyond managing a single development.

“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 logo is expected to be unveiled later this year, coinciding with the formal launch of the Technopolis Development Authority’s new visual identity and its expanded national mandate.

Full competition rules, eligibility requirements, submission specifications, judging criteria and prize details are available on the official competition portal.