World Bank grants Kenya $1bn loan for infrastructure projects

The World Bank said on Thursday it had given Kenya a $1-billion concessional loan for energy, transport and waterinfrastructureprojects in poorer regions in its north and northeast.

These regions have benefited little from Kenya‘s strong economic performance, the World Bank said. The East African economy is seen growing 5.8% this year, after electoral turmoil and drought cut last year’s expansion to the lowest level in more than five years.

Most of the money will be spent in the counties of Garissa, Isiolo, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana, Wajir, and West Pokot which fall below national averages on development indicators, the World Bank said in a statement.

“These infrastructure investments are laying the ground for additional operations that will enable sustainable livelihoods with targeted support to farmers and pastoralists in the region and expanded support to the most vulnerable households through regular cash transfers,” the Bank said.

The funding will go to six projects including an off-grid energy access initiative worth $150-million that the World Bank says will provide electricity to 1.2-million people and contribute 96 megawatts to the national grid.

A further $500-million will go towards a 740-km stretch of the Isiolo-Wajir-Mandera road corridor in the northeast and enhance internet access there.The average poverty rate in the regions named stands at 68% compared with a national average of 36%, the World Bank said, while electrification rates there is only 14% compared with an estimated 44% to 70% nationally.

The new loan is in addition to $1.4-billion the World Bank has already invested in the region in the areas of health, transport, agriculture and social protection.Typically, World Bank concessional loans have zero or very low interest rates and have repayments periods of 25 to 40 years, with a five- or ten-year grace period.