Konza Technopolis partners with The Good Drone Company to drive drone testing and innovation in Kenya

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Technopolis Development Authority has announced a new collaboration agreement with The Good Drone Company and its Kenyan partner ThatcherX, designating the Konza National Drone Corridor as an official test centre for advanced drone operations in Kenya.

The agreement positions Konza Technopolis as a leading hub for drone testing and innovation in Africa, particularly for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

According to the Authority, the partnership will support the deployment and testing of The Good Drone Company’s hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) cargo drone technology within Kenya’s national drone corridor.

The Konza National Drone Corridor is currently the first BVLOS-certified drone testing environment in Africa, developed with infrastructure and regulatory frameworks designed to support large-scale commercial drone development and advanced aviation research.

The collaboration follows a successful initial flight test conducted at Konza Technopolis under the observation of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Ministry of Defence.

Officials said the agreement strengthens Konza Technopolis’ position as a premier destination for drone testing, validation and innovation, attracting international technology developers to utilize its facilities.

The partnership is expected to enhance Kenya’s capacity in next-generation aviation technologies, support skills development in the sector, and enable real-world commercial applications of drone technology.

The Technopolis Development Authority stated that the initiative aligns with its broader mission to build a smart city ecosystem that fosters innovation, attracts global technology partners and supports the growth of emerging industries in Africa.