The United Kingdom is set to invest Ksh.1 billion ($7.1 million) for two projects in Kenya as part of a wider package of green investment in Africa.

A Tuesday statement from the British High Commission in Nairobi said the British International Investment will announce a Ksh.321 million ($2.1 million) investment to provide solar-powered and water-efficient irrigation systems to 9,000 farmers in Kenya.

The project is set to help increase farmers’ income as well as build their resilience and adapt to the impact of climate change.

“The upfront cost of the irrigation systems will also be reduced by 25-40% through an innovative carbon credit facility, making the systems more affordable for farmers,” the statement reads.

“As they replace diesel-powered polluters, they will stop 5,000 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere every year,” added the statement.

The UK has also supported the design and development of President William Ruto’s industrialisation initiative for Africa, the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII).

The Ksh.12.5 billion Menengai Geothermal project – which is expected to generate 35MW of electricity, providing approximately 750,000 Kenyans with affordable, clean energy and creating 200 jobs during construction, is proceeding to financial close with construction expected to begin shortly after, the High Commission said.