Visiting World Bank Vice President to hold talks with President Kibaki

By Today Financial News Reporter

The World Bank Group Vice President for Sustainable Development, Ms Rachel Kyte, is in the country to hold discussions with top government officials.Ms Rachel Kyte to visit some projects funded by World Bank

During her three-day visit, Kyte is expected to hold discussions with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on the Bank’s partnership with Kenya.

She will also hold meetings with other top level Government officials including the Ministers of Finance, Roads and Agriculture; and with development partners.

Kyte will also tour Bank-supported projects in energy, water, municipal development, and natural resource management.

As Vice President for Sustainable Development, Kyte has overall responsibility for the World Bank Group’s global work in agriculture, environment, infrastructure, urban development, and social development. She has held the position since September, 2011.

The scandalized bank-funded Kazi Kwa Vijana is likely to feature during the talks with the Prime Minister whose office was mandated with implementing the programme aimed at empowering the youths thorough various projects.

However, millions of shillings were misdirected forcing the bank to ask for a refund which the government readily agreed to do. It is however not clear whether it is bank’s policy to ask for refunds for money that might have been misused.

World Bank country director Mr Joahnnes Zutt supported the government’s position that the money was not lost but it was used to fund expenditure that the government was supposed to do from its funds allocated for the initiative.

Prior to her appointment, Kyte was since 2008 the Vice President for Business Advisory Services at the International Finance Corporation (IFC)—the World Bank Group’s private sector affiliate.

From 2004, she served as IFC’s Director for Environmental and Social Development, where she led efforts to develop new sustainability performance standards.

Ms. Kyte will be accompanied by Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in the Africa Region.