World Bank to increase funding for electricity, water projects

The World Bank has pledged to increase funding for electricity and water infrastructure in Kenya and the neighbouring countries.

The funding, which will be channeled through the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), is expected to boost the economies of 11 countries in the region.

NBI is charged with initiating co-operation and development within the countries in the River Nile Basin including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Egypt, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Burundi and Eritrea.

Speaking during the fourth Nile Basin Development Forum in Nairobi last week, World Bank Programme Manager for Water Global Practice Gustavo Santiel said they were currently sourcing for funding for the initiative.

World Bank and other global donors have invested over Sh600 billion for the development of electricity and water infrastructure in the 11 Nile Basin countries in the last 10 years.

The funding targeted projects such as building power interconnections between countries in the region and setting up of new hydro-power stations along the Nile River.