Muturi lauds World Bank for supporting Kenya

• Jan 29, 2022

By Wangari Muigai

Presidential aspirant Justin Muturi (pictured above with World Bank officials) has lauded the World Bank for the institution’s continued support to Kenya since independence, noting that they have helped accelerate sustainable growth and promote transformative development.

Muturi who is the National Assembly Speaker was speaking when he met a team from the World Bank Kenya Office led by Mr Keith Hansen (the World Bank Country Director) and Ms.Jumoke-Jagun Dokomnu (International Finance Corporation, Regional Director).

The Democratic Party presidential aspirant observed that the bank has been an invaluable partner in the implementation of the government’s development strategies.

He urged the officials to help Kenya Institute Public Investment Management reforms to ensure the projects the government undertakes have a real impact to the people they are intended for.

Underscoring the place of citizen engagement in decision-making both at the national and county levels, Muturi decried the influx of stalled projects in the country, due to lack of proper assessment and public involvement of these projects during conception.

The Speaker further attributed the high level of stalled projects to poor assessment of the cost and benefit economic returns to the country.

Currently, there are stalled projects estimated to be Kshs.390 billion shillings worth.

The Speaker noted that the bank’s sister institution- the International Monetary Fund has recommended that they be abandoned yet public funds have been sunk into them.

On his part, the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Keith Hansen acknowledged that Kenya just like other country’s that the bank has diplomatic presence has had challenges with regard to public investment management, but added that the bank is now focused on developing capacity and support in favour of proper public investment.

He hailed Kenya for the economic growth that the country has realised in the last decade, by embracing sound economic and fiscal policies, resulting to impressive poverty reduction.

Also in the meeting were Mr Martin Masinde, Senior Deputy Director, Parliamentary Budget Office, Ms. Camille Nuamah ( World Bank Country Manager) and Ms. Vera Rosauer, World Bank External Affairs Officer.