The German government will spend close to Sh17.5 billion on different development projects in Kenya in the next one year.

The German ambassador to Kenya Margit Hellwig-Boette said the projects will be initiated through the German Development Corporation.

Boette said her government will spend Sh6.2 billion for the development of water projects and another Sh4.4 billion for health schemes.

"We have also set aside Sh2.4 billion for agriculture oriented developments and Sh2.5 billion for education," she said.

The ambassador said most of the projects will be initiated in Western Kenya due to poor development of the region.

The envoy was speaking yesterday in Mbita District, Homabay County when she visited OSRAM energy hub which is one of the projects in the region.

OSRAM is an energy providing company based in Germany.

She said they had spent close to Sh350 million to set up the energy hubs at Mbita, Sindo and Nyandiwa.

"We initiated this project in this region to help fishermen improve their catch at night by providing light," she said.

OSRAM senior vice president Wolfgang Gregor who accompanied the envoy said his company will establish more hubs.

"We are planning to put up ten more hubs in other regions where fishing is the main economic activity so that we improve the people's economic status," Gregor said.

The OSRAM assistant project manager in Kenya David Opiyo said the project had helped reduce the menace of paraffin spilling on fish due to use of tin lamps at night.

"Initially most consumers used to complain of paraffin in the fish but with the use of this new technology that danger has been arrested," said Opiyo.

He said the new lighting method has also been introduced in schools for night studies.

"We have introduced the lighting system in eleven schools in Mbita region and are planning to expand to other neighbouring schools," he said.

During the visit to Mbita, the German delegation was accompanied by Kisumu mayor Sam Okello and Mbita DC Joseph Magoha.