Technopolis Development Authority Chief Manager Physical Planning Compliance and Environment, Arch. Annah Musyimi (Centre) loads seed balls into a drone ahead of the seed broadcast at Konza Technopolis that saw over 36,000 seeds broadcasted via drone over 400 acres within the Konza Technopolis Wildlife Conservancy.
KONZA, June 24, 2026 — The Technopolis Development Authority has conducted a drone-enabled seedball broadcasting exercise at the Konza Technopolis Wildlife Conservancy to promote restoration and regeneration in the newly registered urban conservancy.
The exercise saw drones deploy 75 kilogrammes of seedballs containing wild olive, shittah and fever tree species over targeted degraded savannah zones within the conservancy.
Speaking during the exercise, Technopolis Development Authority Chief Manager for Physical Planning, Compliance and Environment, Arch. Annah Musyimi, said technology had become an important tool in environmental conservation, sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity protection.
“Technology is undoubtedly a game changer and we, as the Technopolis Development Authority, have taken the lead in showcasing this,” said Musyimi.
She said the initiative demonstrated how modern airborne technology could support landscape restoration and ecological regeneration through rapid seed dispersal.
The Authority said seedballs are seed-bearing spheres made from charcoal, clay, dust and compost, which protect seeds from predation, retain moisture and provide a micro-nutrient environment for germination.
The seedballs used in the exercise contained indigenous tree species selected for broadcasting across degraded areas of the conservancy.Musyimi said the drones had enabled the Authority to deploy seedballs across a large area within a short time.
“Today we have witnessed our drones deploy a total of 75 kilogrammes of seedballs which contain three different tree species over a total land area of 1,000 acres in a matter of minutes,” she said.
The drone-assisted broadcasting exercise is among the first ecological restoration broadcasts undertaken within a Kenyan urban-adjacent conservancy.
According to the Authority, drone technology provides a precise and rapid method of dispersing seeds over large areas, helping increase vegetation cover and restore degraded land while supporting long-term environmental conservation.
The exercise also highlighted the role of Konza Technopolis in advancing innovation, research and the application of technology-based solutions to support Kenya’s development priorities.Konza Technopolis hosts the Konza National Drone Corridor, Kenya’s dedicated testing and innovation zone for unmanned aircraft systems.
The corridor provides a controlled environment for the development, deployment and validation of drone technologies across different sectors, including agriculture, conservation and environmental management.
The Government has continued to prioritise partnerships among ministries, departments and agencies, research institutions, technology providers and local communities to support innovative agricultural practices, food security and environmental conservation.
Musyimi said the use of technology should be embraced more widely within the conservation and agricultural sectors to improve productivity and national development.
“It is therefore key for not only us but the majority of the conservation and agricultural sector to embrace technology to aid in productivity and development across our nation,” she added.
The Authority said the initiative underscored Konza Technopolis’ growing role as a national centre for innovation and the deployment of technology-based solutions for sustainable development.
