by Jackson Okoth

Kenya’s efforts to harness and distribute more power to the national grid has received a major boost.

This follows an agreement by the French government to give Sh7.2 billion to the newly-formed Geothermal Development Company (GDC) for capacity building and purchase two rigs.

The French government has also increased its funding to OlKaria Geothermal Power project by Sh5.5 billion.

This deal was signed yesterday in Paris, France, during discussions between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the Director General of the French Agency for Development (AFD) Michel Severino. These discussions also covered support for more green projects in Kenya.

The PM, who is in France with other government officials, is pushing for French involvement in Kenya’s drive to expand its energy generation by tapping into alternative sources of power.

Following persistent drought, Kenya has been experiencing power shortages as water levels at the hydro-electric generation plants run low. It is against this challenge that the country is now shifting from reliance on fossil fuels to green energy. Raila asked France to support Kenya’s attempt to shift from reliance on hydrocarbons and fossil fuels.

He asked for more French support for Kenya’s efforts to develop solar, wind and geothermal power.

He also asked France to support the country’s migration from rain-fed agriculture to irrigated farming.Support for greater agricultural production, the PM said, also called for support of environmental conservation efforts.

Responding to Raila’s requests, Severino praised Kenya’s efforts to shift to green energy, saying recent research have indicated that the energy gap reduces the Gross Domestic Product of developing countries by about one per cent every year.

He said nations relying on fossil fuels are taking a great risk, predicting that the cost of this energy will rise tremendously in the next two decades.

"We will work with you on green energy ," Severino said.

"People relying on fossil energy will find life very difficult in the coming years in terms of balance of payments and cost of energy.

Green energy is the best investment a nation can make in the coming years. You can count on us on this," he added.

"My understanding is that the issue of conservation is a social and political one that is about the future sustainability of Kenya. We are open to this kind of programme," he said.

He asked Raila to take up the issue of co-operation for development of nuclear power with the French government.

While in France, Raila will hold discussions with senior officials of the French government including Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner.