Govt plans to provide 70pc of Kenyans with electricity in three years, says Ruto

The government plans to provide electricity to at least 70 per cent of Kenyans in the next three years, Deputy President William Ruto has said.

Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Ruto said the government had engaged in the ambitious project to spur economic growth.

He said Kenya wanted to create an environment that would attract investment to the country and create employment.

"Kenya is looking forward to generate clean energy. In the next three years we will have 300 per cent supply of electricity. We want it to reach 70 per cent of our population."

He said with cheap power supply and good infrastructure, investors will find Kenya a good place for their investment.
The power project is funded by the African Development Bank.

MOBILE MONEY

Former US vice president Al Gore hailed Africa and particularly Kenya on the use of mobile phone money transfer. He said Africa needed to light up homes and industries for development to be realised.

Speaking at the same meeting, Mr Gore, the chairman of Generation Investment Management, said Africa was proving itself in matters of technology.

Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar, Ivory Coast prime minister Kablan Duncan and Nigerian business magnate Tony Elumelu also addressed the meeting.

Later, Mr Ruto also addressed the meeting on food security situation in Kenya and how to improve the image of the African continent.

Mr Elumelu, who is an investor in the energy sector, asked African countries to provide the necessary environment for the private sector to prosper.

More than 600 million people Africa do not have access to reliable energy, which limits their quality of life and development.

The forum, which included investors, governments and developers, explored ways of financing, new technology and business models that could be developed to provide more people with power.