Lucianne Limo
20 September 2007
Nairobi — The Government has received Sh1.4 billion from the European Union towards improving service delivery and reduction of poverty.
The funds, channelled through the Local Government ministry, are intended to reduce poverty through a rural development programme and capacity building.
The five-year funding plan for the Rural Poverty Reduction and Local Authority Programme will be launched officially at the Kenyatta International Conference Center next week. The programme is guided by Kenya Local Authority Reform Programme, which has been designed to improve service delivery and financial management at local authorities.
European Commission head of delegation, Mr Eric van der Linden, said 65 out of Kenya's 175 local authorities will benefit from the funds.
The funds are channelled as a block grant to local authorities showing good performance in improving financial management, rationalisation project appraisal and those that involve community participation.
Linden said the EU targeted the local authority since it is the level where members of public make their voices heard.
"Rural development remains key priority sector for the EU," he said at a press briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday. "Local Government should come up with counter funds to complement the funds."
The selected projects are mainly in the water and sanitation sector and construction and upgrade of markets. Other projects included are construction of roads, health centres, tourism centres and agricultural projects.
The first group of projects started in September last year at a cost of Sh518 million, of which Sh218 million was co-funded by the EU.
The second group, which was recently approved, starts next month and will involve 27 projects at a cost of Sh311 million of which 249 million has been funded from EU.
Local Government Permanent Secretary, Mr Solomon Boit, said the projects are spread across the country.
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