AfDB approves Sh79bn Kenya loan for roads, education
Gabriel Negatu, AfDB regional director for Eastern Africa. FILE
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The funding between 2014 and 2018 targets programmes in tertiary education and infrastructure development, AfDB said.
AfDB will at first focus on investing in physical infrastructure such as roads and energy to ensure an enabling environment for the private sector.
The Africa Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a five-year Sh79.2 billion financing deal for Kenya to boost economic empowerment through job creation.
The funding between 2014 and 2018 targets programmes in tertiary education and infrastructure development, AfDB said.
“To achieve our main objective, we have designed the CSP (Country Strategy Paper) around two main pillars. We will continue to support the government’s effort to enhance physical infrastructure to unleash inclusive growth and secondly, develop skills for the emerging labour market for Kenya’s transforming economy,” the lender’s regional director for Eastern Africa, Gabriel Negatu said.
AfDB will at first focus on investing in physical infrastructure such as roads and energy to ensure an enabling environment for the private sector.
“Specifically, investments in energy, transport and water will increase access to affordable and reliable electricity, improve transport connectivity, reduce transport cost and time and enhance access to reliable water supply.
At enterprise level, this will boost private-sector activity, increase productivity, stimulate structural transformation, and generate employment,” Mr Gegatu said.
AfDB said its investment in the energy sector aims at reducing the cost of electricity and make supply more reliable and accessible.
The second part of the funding programme will focus on improving access to emerging technology-based labour markets and access to lower skills for the labour-intensive sectors, the bank said.
Under this pillar, emphasis will be on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in a bid to develop mid-level skills of technicians and artisans for current and emerging labour markets in both Kenya and the region.
“TVET programmes will also foster inclusiveness by enhancing girls’ and women’s access to science and technology subjects through incentives and other affirmative actions,” the bank said.
Enrolment in TVET will target post primary and secondary school graduates in the 15 and 30 years age bracket and will include apprenticeship programmes and training focused on developing skills needed in infrastructure such as roads, energy, water and ICT.
TVET programmes in the country have recently been dealt a blow after Kenya focused on university education.
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