Kenya seeks bigger role in African energy stakes

Kenya has said that it will seek to play a bigger role in programmes that improve access to energy in developing countries, the country's Prime Minister Raila Odinga said after the launch of the Paris-Nairobi initiative.

Mr Odinga said that Kenya would be instrumental in assisting African countries to achieve the goal of universal access to energy by 2030, an objective that is consistent with the recommendations of the United Nations on Energy and Climate Change.

The Premier has been away in France for the launch of the "Paris-Nairobi Climate Initiative for clean energy for and all countries vulnerable to climate change’’ and was addressing a press conference.

France holds the chair of the G8 and G20 and is keen to partner with Kenya on energy matters, a sector that it has recently targeted with aid money.

Climate change

Mr Odinga noted that the idea to start the initiative dates back to the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Cancun in December 2010.

"France and Kenya saw the need to launch an initiative on access to clean energy in Africa and other countries vulnerable to climate change," Mr Odinga said.

He announced that a Secretariat for the Initiative will be set up in Nairobi and its head will be appointed soon."This is not just about talk, we want to ensure that the whole exercise is fast-tracked," he said.

Mr Odinga said the Paris-Nairobi Initiative will open high level interactions of stakeholders, including government ministries, representatives of multilateral and bilateral development partners and energy experts.