President William Ruto on Monday revealed that Kenya received a Ksh4.3 billion grant from the World Bank to fund the Last Mile Connectivity Project.
Speaking during an event at State House where the contracts for the programme were signed, Ruto stated that his government would not be required to pay back the money since it was a grant secured from the Bretton Woods Institution.
The grant to Kenya was also referenced by Henriette Geiger, the European Union's Ambassador to Kenya. The envoy stated that besides ensuring that the project is completed, the funds have also been earmarked to ensure that the whole process is green and sustainable.
“When you heard Ambassador Henriette here say that Ksh4.3 billion of the 27 billion is a grant, it is not money that we are going to pay back,” stated Ruto.
Ruto added that such grants given to African countries through concessional funding were as a result of lobbying for fair funding from global bodies.
“When I was in Washington, we agreed with President Biden how America is going to lead the way in the replenishment of IDA21 that we are looking for 120 billion USD”, stated Ruto.
Ruto further described the Last Mile Connectivity as a project that is personal to him as it was a promise he made to Kenyans while on the campaign trail.
The Head of State cautioned the contractors on the project to work fast and ensure the project was completed on time. Ruto revealed the project had benefitted 9.6 million households and aimed to reach more by the end of the year.
At the same meeting, President Ruto also announced that the government will be using Kenya Power transmission lines to enhance internet connectivity.
He elaborated that the government will be aiming to leverage Kenya Power lines to ensure that the country achieves its goal of a digital future where most Kenyans have access to stable internet.
Earlier on in February, Kenya Power had announced plans to ensure 4 million Kenyans have access to electricity by 2030 after exceeding its connections target in 2023.
The company revealed that in the second half of 2023, it exceeded its connections target by 13.87 per cent, connecting 256,206 customers against the targeted 225,000 customers.
Further, Kenya Power through the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP) targets to connect 280,000 customers across 32 counties within 18 months.
