Author: Wanjiku Njugunah

• President Uhuru Kenyatta said renewable energy currently accounts for 73% of Kenya’s installed power generation capacity 
• The Kenyan leader called on the international community to invest more in research, innovation and technology transfer
• He also reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the below 1.5 degrees climate ambition, and announced the country’s endorsement of the proposed Glasgow decision on ‘power and green hydrogen in the energy sector’

President Uhuru Kenyatta has told the international community that Kenya is determined and on course to achieving full transition to clean energy by the year 2030.

The President noted that renewable energy currently accounts for 73% of Kenya’s installed power generation capacity while 90% of electricity in use is from green sources among them geothermal, wind, solar and hydro-electric installations.

“Renewable energy in Kenya currently accounts for 73% of the installed power generation capacity, while 90% of the electricity in use is from clean sources. We …

• CDC Group will invest over £3 billion (US$ 4 billion) to support emerging economies in Africa and Asia to combat the climate emergency
• The commitment will make CDC one of the world’s largest climate finance investors in Africa and select South Asian markets
• The funding will be invested over the next five years across a number of different sectors, such as renewable power, infrastructure and agriculture, including forestry

British development finance institution CDC Group will invest over £3 billion (US$ 4 billion) to support emerging economies in Africa and Asia to combat the climate emergency, the Group announced during the ongoing COP26.

The commitment will make CDC one of the world’s largest climate finance investors in Africa and select South Asian markets.

According to the Group, the investment contributes to the ‘Clean Green Initiative’ announced this week by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help developing countries take advantage of green …

• President Uhuru Kenyatta has told world leaders that Kenya will be a steadfast champion of the interests of African countries and the entire Global South on climate change at the UN Security Council
• He noted that Kenya will particularly focus on creating a compelling case for the nexus between climate change and security
• He spoke when he delivered Kenya’s national statement at the World Leaders Summit of the ongoing 26th United Nations Climate Conference (COP26)

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has told world leaders that the country will be a steadfast champion of the interests of African countries and the entire Global South on climate change at the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Speaking in Glasgow, Scotland, the President said Kenya will particularly focus on creating a “compelling case for the nexus between climate change and security” noting that the phenomenon was “escalating and complicating new and old conflicts throughout the world”.…

• China has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the East African Community (EAC) achieve regional integration by promoting its development projects
• Mingjian expressed China’s keen interest in augmenting its cooperation with EAC, adding that it would positively impact EAC products going to Chinese markets especially agricultural products

China will continue to support the East African Community (EAC) achieve regional integration by promoting its development projects.

This is according to the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania and EAC Chen Mingjian who expressed China’s keen interest in augmenting its cooperation with EAC, adding that it would positively impact EAC products going to Chinese markets especially agricultural products.

The Chinese envoy also disclosed that her country was ready to implement the process of donating vehicles to EAC to enhance its capacity.

She made the commitment while presenting her letter of credence to the EAC Secretary-General Dr Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.…

• Airtel Africa and UNICEF said the deal will see them connect schools to the internet and ensure free access to learning platforms across 13 countries
• Airtel Africa is the first African private sector partner to make a multimillion-dollar commitment to ‘Reimagine Education’, a global initiative launched by UNICEF in 2020

Airtel Africa and UNICEF have entered into a five-year pan-African partnership to help accelerate the roll-out of digital learning.

In a statement, the partners said the deal will see them connect schools to the internet and ensure free access to learning platforms across 13 countries.

These are Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Airtel Africa has revealed that its financial and in-kind contribution for this partnership is $57 million over five years to 2027.

By providing equal access to quality digital learning, particularly for the most vulnerable children, …

• Proparco has granted Equity Group two guarantee facilities amounting to KSh 5 billion to help the Kenyan bank further support job-creating MSMEs
• The two guarantees are the largest ever granted by Proparco to a financial institution
• The French investment firm has also granted a €550,000 (KSh 70,000 million )technical assistance facility to support Equity Group Foundation’s health projects

Proparco has granted Equity Group two guarantee facilities, ARIZ and EURIZ totalling €39 million (5 billion KES) to help the Kenyan bank further support job-creating MSMEs.

This was part of the visit to Kenya of the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, Franck Riester.

The French investment firm has also granted a €550,000 (KSh 70,000 million )technical assistance facility to support Equity Group Foundation’s health projects.

The EURIZ guarantee and the technical assistance grant benefited from support from the European Union and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific …

• KenGen has reported a 7% rise in its full-year Profit Before Tax to Ksh14.76 billion
• The firm recommended a dividend pay-out of Ksh 0.30 per share, amounting to Ksh.1.98 billion 
• The profit growth was achieved on the back of continued revenue growth underpinned by the company’s diversification strategy

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has released its full-year Financial Results for the financial year ended 30^th June 2021 reporting a 7% Profit Before Tax increase from Ksh13.79 billion to Ksh14.76 billion.

The NSE-listed firm has also recommended a dividend pay-out of Ksh 0.30 per share which amounts to Ksh.1.98 billion to be paid to all its shareholders.

Announcing the results, KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano said the profit growth was achieved on the back of continued revenue growth underpinned by the company’s diversification strategy.

“In spite of the challenging times, KenGen remained strong recording a steady performance …

• Doses delivered to G20 countries per capita are 15 times higher than doses delivered per capita to sub-Saharan African countries
• Wealthy countries with more supplies than they need have generously pledged to donate these doses to low- and middle-income countries via COVAX but these promised doses are moving too slowly

G20 countries have received 15 times more COVID-19 vaccine doses per capita than countries in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new analysis.

The analysis, conducted by science analytics company Airfinity, exposes the severity of vaccine inequity between high-income and low-income countries, especially in Africa.

It found that doses delivered to G20 countries per capita are 15 times higher than doses delivered per capita to sub-Saharan African countries, 15 times higher than doses delivered per capita to low-income countries and 3 times higher than doses delivered per capita in all other countries combined.

“Vaccine inequity is not just holding the poorest …

• The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a US$150 million to support locally-led climate resilience projects in all rural wards in Kenya
• The program’s development objective is to deliver locally-led climate resilience actions

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a US$150 million International Development Association (IDA) credit to support community identified and locally-led climate resilience projects in all rural wards in Kenya.

In a statement, the organization says the resources will be channelled through the new Financing Locally–Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program.

The program’s development objective is to deliver locally-led climate resilience actions and strengthen county and national governments’ capacity to manage climate risks.

“Kenya has demonstrated leadership in establishing a policy framework to manage climate risk though climate action is still underfunded.” said Keith Hansen, World Bank Country Director for Kenya.

“This financing will support the Government of Kenya meet its climate commitments to increase financing …

• Stanbic Bank, Stanbic Kenya Foundation and the German Development Cooperation have signed a deal to help MSMEs
• The partners say the Ksh 62million project seeks to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to respond, restore and rebound from the effects of the pandemic

Kenya’s Stanbic Bank, Stanbic Kenya Foundation and the German Development Cooperation have entered into a partnership aimed at accelerating business recovery and growth of small enterprises post the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic.

In a statement, the partners say the Ksh 62million project seeks to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to respond, restore and rebound from the effects of the pandemic.

The partnership is under the Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) Programme commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ and Stanbic Kenya Foundation.

The business recovery interventions under the partnership will be provided …