Friday, July 09, 2010
Mitchell who is the first Minister from the new UK Government to visit Kenya will also discuss the UK's support to improving governance in Kenya.
On Monday, the Minister will tour health facilities in Nyanza province to asses the impact of UK health assistance in Kenya, particularly on maternal health.
He will visit a new maternal health clinic in Mbita in Suba district that has been built and equipped with UKaid funds, as well as talk to staff and community health workers who have received training through the programme.
The number of births attended by skilled health workers in the district has risen from 7% to 32% over the project period.
Mitchell is also scheduled to visit beneficiaries of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programme which aims to encourage fostering within communities.
UKaid has provided cash transfers to 30,000 households (over 150,000 people). 85% of these households are headed by women.
Additional funding from the Kenyan Government, World Bank and UNICEF covers a further 120,000 households.
The cash transfers are not only helping families to live, but have reduced poverty in recipient households by 13% since 2007.
The Minister will also meet senior members of the Kenyan Government and members of the private sector and civil society where the focus is expected to be on development in Kenya, including progress on reform, and UK development assistance including on governance and education.
He will also hold meetings on Somalia, including with members of the Somali community, to discuss the role of the private sector in Somalia.
Britain is the second largest bilateral donor in Kenya, with a budget of £81 million in this financial year. Over 80% of this goes towards health, education, humanitarian assistance and social protection while the remaining 20% supports improved governance, private sector development, financial sector reform and improved statistics.
Source: KBC