Connecting Kenya

This story will be published in the upcoming issue of the OPEC Fund Quarterly, which will focus on regional integration - a driver of decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9). Stay tuned for the soon-to-be published OPEC Fund Quarterly!

The OPEC Fund has signed a US$20 million public sector loan agreement with Kenya to increase regional connectivity, enhance trade and improve the socio-economic welfare of about 1.6 million people.

The loan will finance the upgrading of the 90 km Samatar - Wajir Road, a part of the North and North-Eastern Development Initiative Program. The program will better connect Kenya’s northern region to the rest of the country, improving an important 739 km corridor linking Isiolo in the north with Mandera in the northeast (at the border with Ethiopia). 

As with all OPEC Fund-financed projects, this investment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and with SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure in particular.  The OPEC Fund is co-financing the project with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Saudi Fund for Development and the government of Kenya. 

The OPEC Fund and Kenya have been development partners for nearly 45 years. The organization has provided public sector financing totaling close to US$195 million (including the present loan) to help support the country’s agriculture, banking and financial services, communication, education, energy, financial, health, transportation and water and sanitation sectors.