- The Kenya project will improve electricity access for all sectors of the economy.
- Mile Connectivity Project – Phase III is one of the priority actions under the AfDB 2019 to 2023 Country Strategy Paper for Kenya.
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group have approved a €101.10 million loan to Kenya to implement the third phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project. The Kenya project will improve electricity access for households, social infrastructure and micro, small and medium enterprises.
The project will also benefit from a $13.17 million (€12.12 million) loan from the Canada-African Development Bank Climate Fund (CACF), administered by the bank. This provides long-term concessional loans for climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. The Last Mile Connectivity Project – Phase III is one of the priority actions under the AfDB Group’s 2019 to 2023 Country Strategy Paper for Kenya.
AfDB Group Director General for East Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo, said, “The Bank’s support will help households’ social infrastructure and local businesses’ access to adequate, reliable and affordable energy supply, and will create an enabling environment for the realisation of Kenya’s Vision 2030.” The Last Mile Connectivity Project – Phase III builds on the successful implementation of the first two phases financed by the AfDB, which provided grid electricity for more than 1.05 million and nearly 1.6 million people, respectively.
In addition, 10,521 small and medium businesses and social facilities (23 educational institutions, 15 health establishments and eight water supply facilities) will be connected to the grid for the first time. This will reduce the use of pollutants such as fossil and biomass fuels, charcoal and unprocessed agricultural waste. It will also contribute to the transition to clean energy as households and businesses switch to clean and sustainable energy sources. The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 3440 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.