Kenya will benefit from Sh81.7 million funding from the UK to support green infrastructure projects.
The UK did not specify the projects that will be supported but said they would be in the transport sector.
The announcement was made through a press statement shared by the High Commission in Nairobi.
“Focusing on transport projects selected from the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), this innovative partnership will lead to closer cooperation with the Kenyan government on strategic infrastructure and investment and is the first partnership between the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and AGII,” the statement said.
President William Ruto launched the ‘Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative’ at the COP28 meeting in Dubai in December last year.
It aims to accelerate and scale green industries and businesses across Africa, promote climate mitigation and adaptation and catalyse economic green growth on the continent.
It aims to finance 15GW of renewable energy in the continent by the end of the decade, which will unlock investments in Africa’s green industrialisation.
The UK's funding is part of its multi-year Official development assistance, which could exceed £100 million (Sh16.2 billion).
The funding will be spread out over more than one year.
It includes a £20 million (Sh3.25 billion) expansion of the artificial intelligence for development programme into Asia – building on £38m (Sh6.2 billion) the UK is already investing in Africa.
The announcement was made during the ongoing G7 leaders summit in Italy to project the UK as force for global good.
“The UK is committed to driving a more effective international system that improves lives for people across the globe and at home, " Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
“The green transition and the development of AI are key components of this, and the funding announced today will help ensure that these seismic changes happen in a way that works for all.”
Sunak also made the case for a world economy that is more peaceful, stable and prosperous and for bold reforms to global governance to make it more inclusive and responsive to citizens.
The AI for development programme was launched at the AI Safety Summit in November 2023. It hopes to fund safe and responsible AI projects for development around the world, beginning in Africa.
The statement said that the UK-Canada partnership, with support from the US, Australia and other partners, will help ensure this ground-breaking technology is accessible to as many people as possible across the globe, as well as deliver new AI labs to train the next generation of developers, policymakers and thought leaders, to drive responsible and inclusive AI policy.
Partnering with the World Bank and European Union to support African regional electricity transmission and strengthen climate resilience, £15 million (Sh2.4 billion) will contribute to the Zambian side of the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector as part of a $300m (Sh38.4 billion) project that will link the Southern and East African Power Pools.