By VPPS
The World Bank will prioritize funding support for Kenya in roads construction, energy and implementation of the new constitution as well as reforms in the justice system, the bank’s new vice president for Africa Maktar Diop says.
The World Bank boss was speaking in his office at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC when held talks with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka who lobbied for Key Kenyan projects.
Kalonzo who was accompanied by roads permanent secretary Eng. Michael Kamau said Kenya’s request from the World Bank was being subjected to longer approval procedures compared to applications by other nations.
Mr Diop said concerns on governance issues around past projects were the reason for the extra scrutiny on Kenya’s current requests. He however promised to ensure that Kenya gets support to aid the implementation of the new constitution, strengthening of institutions road and the energy sectors.
Kalonzo said Kenya was seeking support for various sectors of the economy from the bank in order to help towards the realization vision 2030.
“We are happy that Mr Diop who has worked in Kenya before is now heading the African division at the bank and we are confident that we will get the necessary support,” Kalonzo said.
Road’s PS Eng Michael Kamau said the country was seeking 300 million dollars (Sh 24b) for the urban transport improvement program, which includes money for construction of the Nairobi flyover that connects Mombasa road to Westlands, studies on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, Meru bypass, studies on light rail network by Kenya Railways and the improvement of the airport – Rironi road, Nairobi.
Upon arrival at Washington DC from the state of Minnesota, the Vice President went straight to deliver a lecture at the prestigious Brookings Institute on the topic “Kenya in Transition.”
Kalonzo engaged the well attended meeting comprising top policy makers and members of respected think tanks in Washington on various issues ranging from the conflict in Somalia, tension between Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan as well as situation of refugees in Kenya.
He also gave a candid assessment of Kenya’s reform agenda beginning with the promulgation of a new constitution to the changes in the judiciary, the police force as well as his take on the preparation and the conduct
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