The US Agency for International Development (USAid) has granted Kenya $42,2-million to promote economic growth and democracy, following agreements signed here on Monday.
”Today we signed two financial agreements and four memoranda of understanding under which USAid will avail Kenya $42,2-million to finance various development programmes in support of poverty reduction,” USAid Country Director to Kenya Kiertsak Toh said at a signing ceremony with Kenyan Finance Minister Christopher Obure.
Toh said the cash would support broad-based economic growth and development, including supporting Kenya’s democratic institutions that are hampered, by among other things, lack of money.
Programmes to be financed include agricultural production, HIV/Aids reduction, health delivery management and community-based resource in wildlife and forestry, Toh said.
The cash will also support projects like parliament, the electoral commission and focused civic organisations, Toh added.
Obure told the ceremony that despite the expansion of trade between Kenya and the US since 2000, when the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was enacted, Kenya still suffers a trade deficit in the market.
”Kenya has exported to the US market goods worth $70-million as at 2002, but the potential for export growth is huge, although Kenyan businesses are currently tapping a small market portion,” Obure said.
The US, through USAid, has granted Kenya $158,8-million since 1998, which includes $56,1-million for the bomb blast victims and 60,3-million in emergency food assistance for drought relief. – Sapa-AFP