Kenya and France have signed a Sh3.63 billion deal for power grids in northern Kenya counties, boosting the government’s efforts to provide affordable power to all Kenyans.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault witnessed the signing of the Credit Facility Agreement at State House in Nairobi on Monday.

The deal will provide funds for a mini-grid retrofitting project that will be implemented by Kenya Power and will see the installation of 9.5MW of additional power in the counties.

The counties will also get an additional 0.6MW generated by wind power.

The projects will involve the setting up of mini-grids at 23 sites, including Banisa, Baragoi, Daadab, Eldas, Elwak, Faza, Habaswein, Hola, and Hulugho.

Other sites that will benefit from the funding are Kiunga, Mandera, Maikona, Merti, Mfangano, North Horr, Laisamis, Lokichogio, Lokiriama, Lokitang, Lokori, Rhamu and Takaba.