President Uhuru Kenyatta to host UN and World Bank chiefs

World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Kenya National Hospital CEO Lily Tare

President Uhuru Kenyatta will this evening hold talks with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim at State House, Nairobi.

The third, high-level, joint UN-World Bank meeting on the continent will focus on peace and development in the Horn of Africa and it is expected discussions will centre on the massive funding announced on Monday.

Kenya is among key beneficiaries of a Sh712 billion (USD8 billion) financial support pledge from global and regional institutions to benefit the Horn of Africa.

The funding is meant to boost economic growth and opportunity, reduce poverty, and spur investments across eight countries, including Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

It is expected that the World Bank will pledge about Sh151 billion (USD1.7 billion) towards addressing conflict, displacement and security to be shared among the countries in the Horn of Africa. Also to be discussed is the maritime border dispute with Somalia.

"The labour dispute that is simmering with South Sudan demonstrates the delicate line Kenya has to walk as a regional peace broker on the one hand and as a sovereign nation that needs to protect its interests on the other," reads the communication. Sh1.4 trillion will be pledged towards these key talking themes in the Horn of Africa.

"The visit provides a rare opportunity for Kenya to showcase its role in the peace-making process and to create a better understanding in the international community of the burden and costs it bears as a host country, including the increased exposure to terrorism," the communication says.

The high-profile visit is scheduled to start in Ethiopia where the team will hold a meeting with Foreign ministers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia and Uganda.

The delegation will then visit Djibouti, Somalia and the Dabaab refugee camp and is expected to arrive in Nairobi on October 29.