UK pledges Sh2.7billion aid to Kenya for job creation

British High Commissioner to Kenya Dr Christian Turner at a past event. Britons seeking to work with children in Kenya must be cleared by UK police to reduce the risk of employing child sex offenders, the High Commissioner has said. FILE PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |

What you need to know:

  • The project aims at helping at least 30,000 mothers deliver with the help of midwives, nurses or doctors.
  • Other sectors to be supported are education and poverty alleviation through cash transfers to vulnerable groups.

The United Kingdom will spend $30 million (Sh2.7billion) in wealth creation projects in Kenya in 2015.

The UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID) said the investment is aimed at helping the Kenyan economy achieve a 10 per cent growth rate and attain upper middle income status.

DFID estimates the projects will generate 110,500 jobs by the end of 2015.

The wealth creation projects include market development, financial access, infrastructure, trade and regional economic integration.

According to DFID, Kenya has the largest, most diversified and innovative economy in East Africa.

“Its human capacity, entrepreneurial energy and available capital give it huge potential to create jobs and reduce poverty among Kenyans and other East Africans, as well as setting trends for other African countries,” DFID added in its 2015-2016 operation plan.

The UK will also support the health sector by supporting safe delivery for mothers. The project aims at helping at least 30,000 mothers deliver with the help of midwives, nurses or doctors in the next one year.

Other sectors to be supported are education and poverty alleviation through cash transfers to vulnerable groups.

“Cash transfers are a proven instrument for reducing extreme poverty and managing household-level risk and vulnerability. Our current project-level monitoring and evaluation shows recipient households using transfers to increase family food consumption, children’s education, assets and trading,” the UK agency said.