• Horie also said the Japan government will supply 10 ambulances to Kenya.
•He said he will sign another agreement with the government next week to disburse funds to the counties.
Image: COURTESY
Kenya has received a Sh8 billion health sector policy loan for attainment of UHC from Japan.
Making the announcement during the daily Covid-19 briefing on Thursday, Japan Ambassador Ryoichi Horie said, "Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya, Japan has been contributing to the fight against the virus such as JICA supplies... it has also disbursed around Sh340 million through UNDP and Unicef to strengthen the health system."
Horie also said the Japan government will supply 10 ambulances to Kenya.
He said he will sign another agreement with the government next week to disburse funds to the counties.
Meanwhile, the government of Kenya, through the national Treasury, also signed a framework agreement with South Korea.
The agreement includes loans from the Economic Development Cooperation for the years 2018 - 2020.
Treasury CS Ukur Yatani on Thursday said the agreement will see Kenya draw funds from the Framework Arrangement to finance its development projects.
The projects include the establishment of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for Line 5 (Outer Ring Road), a project cost of Sh6,386,372,400 ($59 million), which aims at improving public transportation once completed.
It will also be used for the Nairobi Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) establishment and junction’s improvement Phase I Project, at project cost of Sh6,602,859,600 ($61 million).
The funds will also be used in phase 2 of Nairobi Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) establishment and junction’s improvement at project cost of Sh10,824,360,000 (USD 100 million).
Yatani said the establishment of both phase one and two aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management.
He added that the projects will enable users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and 'smarter' use of transport networks.
“We wish to inform you that the negotiations for the above three projects are at different stages and shall expedite the process to conclude them and also identify other priority projects to be funded under this Arrangement,” Yatani said.
The CS informed South Korean ambassador to Kenya Choi Yeonghan and members of the Korean delegation about the ongoing Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
KAIST project is being carried out under a loan from Korea Eximbank amounting to Sh9.825 billion.
He also assured them that the government of Kenya will oversee quick and smooth implementation of the identified projects.
“I further call upon the State Department of Infrastructure and other agencies involved in the implementation process to ensure that high standards of project implementation are maintained during the roll out these projects.”