Child drinking water from tap. France yesterday gave a Sh4.4 billion (40 million Euros) grant for Lake Victoria water and sanitation and slums’ upgrade project. (PHOTO: COURTESY)
After a successful UN climate change conference that ended with a historic partially binding Paris Agreement on climate change, France is making true its commitment to helping developing countries improve their citizens’ living standards.
Through its Ambassador to Kenya, Remi Marechaux, France yesterday gave a Sh4.4 billion (40 million Euros) grant for Lake Victoria water and sanitation and slums’ upgrade project.
In the deal signed in the presence of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, Lands CS Jacob Kaimenyi, Water CS Eugene Wamalwa and World Bank representatives, Sh3.9 billion will be used for slums upgrade while the Lake Victoria water and sanitation project will be allocated Sh550 million.
The World Bank, through the International Development Association (IDA), will give 60.5 per cent of the fund while the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Kenya Government will each give six per cent.
According to Merachaux, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret are the counties where 21 floodlights will be put up in their slums and another 27 floodlights to be constructed in Machakos, Nairobi and Naivasha.
Mr Rotich said the water and sanitation project is part of a bigger regional plan involving neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania.
“Lake Victoria is an important national and regional resource which not only supplies water to farms around but also has great potential for the development of regional lake transport and tourism,” he said.
