The board of directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) have approved US$391mn in funding to help finance a major water and sanitation programme in Kenya
The programme, authorised on 9 November and to implemented in 54 months, is estimated to cost US$451.66 mn, meaning the bank’s loans and grants will cover 86 per cent of the total cost. The Government of Kenya will contribute US$60.87 mn in counterpart funding.
The Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme is designed to improve access, quality, availability and sustainability of water supply in 19 towns and wastewater management services across 17 towns across the country.
It aims to catalyse commercial activities, drive economic growth, improve citiziens' quality of life, and build resilience against climate change.
These objectives will be achieved through construction and rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation infrastructure, including expansion into informal settlements, and capacity development of water service providers, sector regulators, and women and youth.
It will provide more than 2.1mn people with reliable and sustainable water supply services and more than 1.3mn people with water-borne sewerage systems. In addition, the programme will create more than 15,000 new jobs during, and after, its implementation.
It will also boost further Kenya’s rapid urbanisation, which drives GDP growth, economic transformation, increases in productivity and incomes, and employment creation.
It is projected that more than half of Kenya’s population will be living in cities and towns by 2030.
