Belgium signs a KSh3.1 billion deal to boost Kenya’s development

Last Updated 13 years ago by Kenya Engineer

The Energy sector will be revamped with the government signing KSh1.9 billion with the Belgium government on Wednesday. The loan is set to fund the Sondu-Homa Bay-Kisii Rural Electrification Project to distribute electricity to cover 85 kilometers. 

The power distribution line, Sondu-Homa Bay-Kisii and associated sub-stations, will carry 132 kilowatts and will be located in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Kisii Counties.  This comes only a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed an agreement with the Chinese Government of $1 billion to fund the Energy -related projects in Kenya.

The signing ceremony was done at the Treasury Building and in attendance were the principal secretaries of line ministries, Dr. Kamau Thugge from Treasury ,Mr. Joseph Tiampati from Information Communication Technology (ICT), and the Belgium Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Didier Reynders.

The government also signed a KSh1.2 billion loan to support the ICT sector, hence the presence of Mr. Tiampati. The fund is to cater for the cost of executing e-Government Private Network’s Phase II, with Phase I set for completion by the end of this month.

The project dubbed ‘County Connectivity Project’ (CCP) is meant to create access to the National Optical Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) in 28 Counties. Phase II of the project involves installation of communication equipments and applications in 17 Counties and in 18 National Government Ministry Headquarters in Nairobi.

“The project, when completed will not only modernize Government’s communication technology, but will also increase efficiency in the provision of key government services,” said Dr. Thugge. 

Mr. Tiampati said that the CCP will also provide video conferencing facilities and telephone services to the 28 fibre connected counties and enable sharing of information between county officials.

County officials from Murang’a and Embu linked via the video link said that e-Government service have been effective and convenient in inter-county communication and with national government and urged the government to facilitate the same to the sub-county level.

Mr. Reynders declared his country’s commitment in partnering with Kenya in development and economic projects to strengthen bilateral relations.

In the past, Belgium has funded the Ngong’ Wind Mill project that generates five megawatts of electricity.  The Phase II of the project is expected to generate seven megawatts.