Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sh850m to boost water supply in Oloitokitok


Desert Water in Turkana. Kenya has received Sh850 billion ($10 million) from the Arab Bank for Development in Africa to expand and rehabilitate the water supply and sewerage systems in Oloitokitok town. Photo/FILE
Desert Water in Turkana. Kenya has received Sh850 billion ($10 million) from the Arab Bank for Development in Africa to expand and rehabilitate the water supply and sewerage systems in Oloitokitok town. Photo/FILE 
By Nation Correspondent
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Kenya has received Sh850 million ($10 million) from the Arab Bank for Development in Africa to expand and rehabilitate the water supply and sewerage systems in Oloitokitok town.

Signing the loan agreement yesterday, the National Treasury’s principal secretary Mr Kamau Thugge said that demand for clean water services in the town is rising with the rapidly growing population.

DEMAND FOR WATER
“…the town has experienced high influx of population which has increased the demand for clean water and related services and therefore your intervention is timely,” said Mr Thugge.
The Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA) has extended the loan to Kenya at annual interest rate of one per cent. Funds are repayable within 30 years, including a 10-year grace period.
BADEA director general, Mr Abdelaziz Khelef, is in the country on an inspection trip on existing projects funded by the bank. Since 1975, the bank has disbursed Sh12.3 billion ($144.6 million) to Kenya for various infrastructure projects.
Projects that have benefited from the bank’s financing include the Thika-Garissa road, the Wote-Makindu road and the Hola Irrigation scheme.
Mr Thugge said infrastructure projects such as these will bolster the country’s economic growth. It is projected that the economy will grow by more than five per cent in 2013.
SECURITY CONCERNS
There have been concerns in the wake of the Westgate hostage crisis that growth would slow down. However, Mr Thugge said the economy is resilient.
“The economy will not be affected by this (attack). Government plans have not changed and we will continue to implement our infrastructure development plans,” said Mr Thugge.

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