The World Bank approved an International Development Association (IDA) fund of $150 million for Kenya. The fund will be utilized to help communities in Kenya gain access to modern energy services through off-grid solar systems.

The fund will be utilized to run the Off-Grid Solar Access Project for Underserved Counties program. Under the program, close to 1.3 million people in 277,000 households across 14 counties in Kenya will benefit.

According to the World Bank, the program will reach homes, schools, and health centers, with maximum private sector involvement and investment to ensure sustainability.

“The Ministry appreciates this project, which will go a long way in contributing to the achievement of one of the Government’s objectives of attaining universal access to electrification by 2020,” said Hon. Charles Keter, E.G.H., Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Kenya.

The Cabinet Secretary further added, “The uniqueness of this project, which entails collaboration of the public and private sector, embedded operation, and maintenance, as well as innovative financing of solar home system components, will be the hallmark of success in accelerating off-grid electrification, which has been hard to achieve. We appreciate the partnership and support of the World Bank in conceptualization and implement this project.”

“The World Bank is committed to supporting the growth of Kenya’s underserved areas through linking homes, communities and the businesses that serve them to clean and renewable energy sources,” said Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director for Kenya.

The program is fully aligned with the World Bank Group’s Kenya Country Partnership Strategy and it also supports the World Bank Group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.