BRUSSELS – Kenya on Wednesday received 72 million Euros (Sh11.5 billion) grant from the European Union under the Multiannual Action Plan 2023-24. Â
The signing was done by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen at the Global Gateway Forum 2023, in Brussels, Belgium.
DP Rigathi said the funding is under the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instruments, which is EU’s main instrument for international partnerships on sustainable development, climate change, democracy, governance, human rights, peace and security.
“The money will fund the implementation of priority projects under the Green Transition- Environmental Sustainability and Resilience, Leave No One Behind- Human Development and Digital Inclusion and Democratic Governance, Peace and Stability,” Rigathi said on X.
“On behalf of President William Ruto and the people of Kenya, we are immensely grateful to the European Union for being true to their commitment to financial support to our development agenda,” he added.
The Global Gateway is a European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.
It seeks to mobilise up to €300 billion of investments for sustainable and high-quality projects, taking into account the needs of partner countries and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities between 2021-27.
According to the European Commission, 90 key projects have this year been launched worldwide across the digital, energy and transport sectors through Global Gateway to strengthen health, education, and research systems.
Some of the countries that have or will benefit include Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Djibouti, Madagascar, DRC, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Benin.
In Kenya, the EU will undertake a digitalisation initiative through which an optic fibre infrastructure and last mile connections will be taken to underserved areas, with an emphasis on school connectivity and digital servicing. It will also develop mobile access networks in rural areas by extending broadband access.
It will also build the Northern Strategic Transport Corridor that will have travel and trade facilitation projects to improve regional connectivity and trade.
The corridor links Kenya to neighbouring Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC, the busiest trade and transport corridor in East Africa.
