afrol News, 20 August - The Kenyan government has approved a budget of Kshs 250 billion (about US$ 3.3 billion) to support food security and job creation projects across the country.

A statement from the government today said the money would be for the implementation of 18 Multi-purpose projects across the country over the next 8 years, saying that the projects are expected to deal with some of the major challenges facing the country on a medium and long term basis.

The projects, which will cover the six regional development authorities will cover irrigation of food and cash crops, hydro-electric power generation, supply of clean water, development of fisheries, water catchments conservation, creation of local employment and rural development, the statement from government said.

Some over 213,000 jobs are expected to be created from the project with a trickling factor and another 956,000 indirect jobs.

Kenya has had to declare a state of emergency following a series of long droughts in the last few years and with the government seeking food aid for 5.8 million.

In April, the World Bank provided an emergency grant of US$5 million under its Global Food Crisis Response Programme to assist Kenya deal with significant food shortfalls due to the impact of the current drought in the country, high input prices and the global financial crisis.

Kenya’s shortfall was also in part, a result of the post election violence which later culminated the formation of the unity government.

By staff writer

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