Kisumu has secured $750,000 grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB), channeled through its Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) for transformation of Kenya’s third larges city.
- •This crucial funding is dedicated to a comprehensive feasibility study for Kisumu’s ambitious lakefront development.
- •Having successfully navigated the City Profiling and Prioritization stages, Kisumu is now firmly in the feasibility stage of this pivotal development.
- •The injection of AfDB funds paves the way for in-depth technical, financial, and environmental assessments of the identified lakefront projects.
This comprehensive study is designed to yield a robust pipeline of ready-to-finance, bankable urban projects. Critically, these projects are aligned with climate resilience and inclusive growth goals with their foundation rooted in Kisumu’s existing strategic frameworks, including the Local Physical and Land Use Development Plan, and will directly contribute to the County Integrated Development Plan and national Public Financial Management (PFM) systems.
Early this month, AfDB approved a ZAR 2.5 billion (approximately $139 million) corporate loan to the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, marking the Bank’s first direct lending to a subnational entity in Africa.
AfDB’s loan to Johannesburg will finance over 100 projects across four sectors: upgrading distribution networks, installing smart meters, expanding renewable energy capacity, and connecting 3,200 new households to the grid; rehabilitating aging pipelines, upgrading treatment facilities, and reducing water losses from 46% to 37%; and improving landfill compliance, expanding recycling facilities, and enhancing waste collection services.
“Johannesburg is not just South Africa’s largest city – it contributes 16% to the country’s GDP and serves as a gateway for investment across the continent. By strengthening its infrastructure backbone, we’re investing in Africa’s urban future,” the African Development Bank’s Director General for Southern Africa, Kennedy Mbekean said.
The significance of the AfDB partnership with Kisumu was underscored by a meeting between Kisumu officials and a delegation from the African Development Bank. Mr. Babati Mokgethi, the AfDB’s Senior Urban Development Officer, led the delegation, engaging in discussions that reinforced the strong collaborative spirit between Kisumu and the AfDB.
