Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) – At a time when many believe that Kenya is looking east for development partners, the Danish Government says it plans to invest US$ 206,896,551 (Sh 18 billion) in the country in the next four years to support various development projects.
According to the visiting Danish Trade and Development Minister, Mogens Jensen, the funds will focus on supporting devolution, green energy and regional security.
This comes a few days after the US Government, at the recent US-Africa Leaders Forum in Washington, pledged massive investment in African countries, among them Kenya.
Mogens said the Kenyan and Danish governments are currently in negotiations on what projects in the three areas should be prioritised and implemented.
“With the new cooperation policy programme between Denmark and Kenya, we will be supporting mainly three areas and we will be introducing this from next year,” Jensen said.
On devolution, Jensen said the priority will be on the health sector in the 47 counties among other public service sectors.
“I think it would be a major task of the new counties to build up health services that reach the whole population and we will be happy to assist the counties,” the Danish Minister said.
On regional security, the funds will be used to assist in building the capacity of the security agencies, especially in the fight against terror.
“We will be looking at securing the area against terror by enforcing the work of the police and other areas that are necessary to combat terrorism, in Kenya and other countries in the region,” he said.
The minister was speaking during a Danish Business Network in Kenya forum in Nairobi. The network consists of 42 firms from Denmark operating in the country.
The forum also involved the review of a wind project which is being carried out by Vestas, a Danish firm in coordination with other global firms.
The project, dubbed Wind for Prosperity, will see up to 13 wind power sites established in Kenya, mainly in remote areas.
Photo credit: Forbes
