In a bid to mitigate climate change effects, the United Kingdom has pledged to inject Ksh4 billion into the expansion of the Eldoret solar power plant.
Through British High Commission, Head of Economic Development and Climate – Kenya Mr. Mike Foster, the additional funds are as a result of a recent visit of President Uhuru Kenyatta to the UK where he committed to enhance efforts aimed at promoting the use of clean energy.
”Through the UK – Kenya government partnerships, we will expand the existing Solar Power Plant in Eldoret in order to promote the use of solar energy which is clean energy and this will help in mitigating the effects of climate change,” Foster said.
He noted that there are two other solar plants near Eldoret that are financed by the UK government and when completed, they will improve access to energy and employment for thousands of people, subsequently livelihoods.
Already Alten Africa, a subsidiary of the Dutch Company Alten Renewable Energy Development has Set up a 40MW solar project on an area of 100 hectares in Kesses Sub County to a tune of Ksh10 billion.
The Kesses Solar Power Plant Project, with peak power of 55 MWp and 40 MW power capacities once finished, will account for 2 percent of the country’s entire installed capacity.
The new plant will discharge 123.6 GWh/year of clean energy into Kenya’s grid, enough to meet the Dr electricity needs of 824,000 Kenyans.
And in a bid to promote the forest tree cover in Kenya, the UK government has partnered with other line ministries and institutions in a project dubbed ‘Greening Kaptagat’ where a number of projects have been launched.
The project costs Ksh75 million from the UK government in partnership with World Wildlife Fund and the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation.
“The greening Kaptagat project will see continued protection of the water sources and about 13 tributaries that feed the Kesup river flowing into Lake Turkana, planting of more indigenous trees in the Kaptagat forest which is a gazetted water catchment area other than the solar plants. That will ensure the realization of 100 percent clean energy in Kenya by 2030” said the British High Commission, Head of Economic Development and Climate – Kenya.
