President William Ruto has joined other African leaders in an ambitious effort aimed at providing electricity to millions across the continent.
On Tuesday, January 28, during the African Heads of State Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Ruto and his counterparts officially launched the “Mission 300” initiative.
This groundbreaking program aims to connect over 300 million people half of Africa’s 600 million who currently live without electricity to affordable and sustainable power by the year 2030.
The initiative is backed by prominent international partners, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), The Rockefeller Foundation, and the African Union, all of which have committed substantial resources to make this vision a reality.
The World Bank is investing between $30 billion and $40 billion (approximately sh 4 trillion to sh 5 trillion), while the AfDB is contributing $18 billion (around sh 2.3 trillion) over the next five years to support this transformative project.
During the summit, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu emphasized the significance of the initiative, describing it not just as an energy project but as a key driver of socioeconomic empowerment.
She highlighted how the program will uplift millions of families, reduce poverty, and create new opportunities for young people across the continent.
World Bank President Ajay Banga also spoke at the event, noting that the initiative is integral to the broader jobs agenda and will lay the foundation for future economic growth.
He emphasized the importance of clean energy solutions, such as clean cooking technologies, which are expected to save thousands of lives by preventing deaths caused by indoor smoke exposure.
According to estimates, over 600,000 women and children die each year due to the harmful effects of smoke from traditional cooking methods.
In addition to Presidents Ruto and Suluhu, the summit was attended by other leaders, including Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazaouani, who also signed the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration.
This declaration outlines the specific actions that each country’s leaders will take to speed up energy sector reforms in their respective nations.
Before attending the summit, President Ruto had already launched several electrification projects within Kenya, including new initiatives in Kakamega and Busia Counties.
In Busia, he inaugurated the Kinjavi Village Electrification Project, which successfully connected 192 households to the national power grid, bringing much-needed electricity to the area.
As the Mission 300 initiative takes shape, it promises to transform Africa’s energy future, creating a more sustainable and inclusive continent for generations to come.
Over 1,200 Kenyans In The US Face Deportation Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Email your news TIPS to Editor@NairobiNews.co.ke
