Uhuru upbeat on progress of donor funded projects

President Uhuru Kenyatta chats with representatives of donor partners at State House, Nairobi. [Samuel Miring'u, Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the implementation of a framework to coordinate external development support in the country.

The president thanked development partners for supporting the government towards the achievement of its socio-economic agenda.

“We appreciate the support we have continued to receive from the World Bank, the European Union, the United Nations and all our development partners,” the president said.

He spoke yesterday at State House in Nairobi during a meeting with development partners and the Cabinet sub-committee on development where he was briefed on the progress made in the implementation of the framework for coordination of external development support.

The development partners who attended the meeting included World Bank Vice President for Africa Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Kenya Country Director Carlos Felipe and European Union Head of Delegation Simon Mordue as well as several ambassadors and high commissioners.

The Head of State welcomed the support from development partners in the war against corruption, noting the government will not waver in its commitment to fight the vice.

“We believe we are making good progress on this front. We will continue fighting corruption and we welcome your support on this,” he told the donor agencies.  

President Kenyatta called on development partners to increase their support on priority areas that include Universal Health Coverage, housing, road construction, water and school infrastructure development.

“With the 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools, there is pressure to accommodate the rising numbers. That is why development of school infrastructure is also a key priority,” he said.

Ongoing projects

The president asked the donor agencies to re-allocate un-utilised resources to complete ongoing projects across the country.

The meeting was attended by the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on development led by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.

Later at State House Nairobi, President Kenyatta met IMF Resident Representative Tobias Rasmussen, who praised Kenya for the strides it has made in its fiscal management that has ensured reduction of external debt and growth of revenue.

Mr Rasmussen commended the government for the removal of the interest caps on loans, saying the move has helped to release funds to the private sector.