Zim Billionaire Drives Investments Into Kenya’s Energy Sector

Zimbabwe’s richest man and founder of Econet Wireless, Strive Masiyiwa is spearheading a drive to bring more investment into Kenya.

“Kenya has strong skills and a lot of people who can be trained and be developed which is what we want. I have always been comfortable about investing in Kenya and encouraging others to invest,” said Masiyiwa.

Masiyiwa travelling with Virgin Group founder, Richard Branson said the Briton wants to assist small African companies build big giants in the energy sector.

“We are trying to invest philanthropic resources; we want to help young people set up ventures in the energy sector and help them to develop a new industry around renewable energy,” he said.

“We believe what was experienced in the mobile sector will be seen ten years from now in the energy sector. We are looking for revolutionary new technological ideas which we believe will power Africa into the future.”

Masiyiwa who has investments in Telecel International’s unit in East Africa added that the initiative was going to draw billions of US dollars.

“There is a lot of money available as the initiative has backing of credible business people,” he said.
Branson said he had told Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta that there’s a need to make sure that all Kenyans have access to electricity.