Kenya has potential to achieve MDGs, says centre

Kenya may not achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 although it has the potential to make great strides by then, a director has said.

MDG Centre East & Southern Africa director Glenn Denning, however, noted that the country was in a better position than most in Africa in achieving the set targets.

“Kenya has fewer excuses for not achieving the goals. It has a highly educated population, is not at war or land-locked,” he said.

Mr Denning spoke during the signing of MoU between his centre and the French embassy for the construction of renewable energy project in Dertu Village, Lagdera Constituency.

The $250,000 project will be undertaken jointly by the two. Ambassador Elisabeth Barbier signed for the Government of France.

Millennium village

Dertu is one of the two Millennium Villages set up to act as models on how to transform remote areas to modern ones in a relatively short time. The other is in Nyanza Province.

Mr Denning said Kenya could score quick wins through investing in agriculture and utilising its strategic position to accelerate trade with other countries.

He said the country had achieved much in education, infrastructure and health, especially in combating HIV/Aids and malaria adding that there was need to improve on what had been achieved.

Millennium Development Goals envisage a high quality healthcare, education, water, better environment, sustainable and higher income for the people by 2015 as set by the United Nations.