Kenya: Sh2 Billion Grant to Fight Changes in Climate |
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Nairobi — Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday announced that the Japanese Government has extended a Sh2.24 billion grant to support Kenya's efforts in mitigating effects of climate change.
He said the Japanese have also pledged a further Sh385 million grant to help in the restoration of the Mau Forest Complex. The PM spoke at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when he arrived from a week-long tour of Japan and Thailand.
"We went to seek trade and investment opportunities as opposed to the old habit of begging for aid. But to cope with the impact of global warming, we encourage promotion of green energy and reforestation projects," he said.
Mr Odinga unveiled some projects foreign companies planned to undertake and encouraged investors to fully exploit opportunities in green energy production towards reduction of carbon emission, largely blamed for the global warming.
The PM said that the Japanese wanted to assist Kenya develop a nuclear energy reactor to bridge the power deficit. He said that car manufacturer, Toyota, expressed interest in investing in geothermal and solar energy production especially now that it intends to open a regional assembly plant in the country.
Mr Odinga said that Totoya top executives sanctioned plans for the construction of an oil pipeline and export terminal from the proposed Lamu Port to Juba Town in Southern Sudan. "The company has confirmed plans to make Kenya a logistic hub by September this year and also put up 30 megawatt solar energy generation plant in Garissa Town," he said.
The Thai Government, he said, pledged to promote bilateral ties with Kenya through investment in the energy, Agro and Fruit processing industries. Mr Odinga expressed optimism that the country was likely to make major strides in mitigating the effects of climate change now that main players like Japan had made efforts to bail out vulnerable countries.
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