National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has held a consultative meeting with top officials from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discuss ways of boosting Kenya’s economic reform efforts and improving cooperation with the two global lenders.
The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, November 11, at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, brought together World Bank Group Division Director Qimiao Fan, IMF representatives, and members of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF Caucus, chaired by Wajir East MP Mohamed Adan Daud.
The discussions focused on strengthening partnerships between Parliament, government institutions, and development partners to drive Kenya’s economic transformation agenda.
“Today, I held a consultative meeting with a delegation from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at Parliament Buildings to explore ways of strengthening collaboration in support of Kenya’s economic transformation agenda,” Wetang’ula shared on his X account.
He said the National Assembly plays a crucial oversight role in monitoring how public funds are spent and ensuring transparency in all government institutions.
Wetang’ula urged for enhanced support to key oversight bodies, noting that accountability remains a major driver of economic growth and investor confidence.
“I underscored the National Assembly’s critical oversight role on public expenditure and called for enhanced support to the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) to boost its capacity in auditing public institutions,” his statement added.
The Speaker further appealed for similar assistance to be extended to the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, saying these agencies need more capacity to effectively fight corruption and strengthen governance.
Wetang’ula reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to pass laws that will help expedite corruption cases and ensure that justice is delivered efficiently.
He also thanked the World Bank and IMF for their continued partnership with Kenya and assured them that Parliament will continue to play a supportive role in ensuring that reforms are implemented successfully.
Treasury
A week earlier, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi met World Bank Managing Director for Operations Anne Bjerde in Nairobi to discuss Kenya’s economic recovery plans and progress on existing projects funded by the Bank.
During the meeting, Mbadi commended the World Bank for its continued support, saying the government remains dedicated to implementing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which focuses on creating jobs, improving livelihoods, and promoting inclusive growth.
“The government will continue to pursue prudent fiscal policies to reduce debt risks and protect key social programmes,” Mbadi stated, emphasising the government’s commitment to balancing fiscal stability with the welfare of citizens.
He acknowledged that while some of the reforms tied to global lenders have drawn mixed reactions online, Kenya remains committed to sustainable economic policies that promote accountability and growth.
Mbadi noted that the World Bank’s partnership framework is closely aligned with the BETA agenda, making it central to Kenya’s long-term development goals.
As part of this collaboration, the World Bank recently approved Project Preparation Advances worth KSh 1.16 billion to support three major projects: the Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project, the Road and Rural Economic Development Project, and the Lake Victoria Basin Development Project.
These projects are expected to improve infrastructure, boost trade, and enhance access to essential services in both urban and rural areas.
The Treasury has also indicated plans to submit additional projects for consideration under the upcoming IDA-21 cycle, signalling Kenya’s intention to continue accessing concessional financing from the World Bank.
Mbadi assured the Bank that the government is addressing gaps in previous reforms to ensure that implementation and oversight are more effective going forward.
He added that the Treasury is finalising a Host Country Agreement with the World Bank through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and revising regulations to allow electronic signatures in official transactions.
The move aims to modernise public sector operations, speed up project approvals, and reduce bureaucratic delays.
According to the Treasury, these reforms are designed to make Kenya more efficient, transparent, and attractive to international investors.
Mbadi also appealed to the World Bank to release funds under the Development Policy Operation 7 (DPO 7) as soon as the ongoing technical consultations are complete.
“The CS also sought the Bank’s support for the timely disbursement of DPO 7 resources once ongoing technical consultations are concluded,” the Treasury statement said.
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