National Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi, led Kenya’s high-level delegation in a strategic meeting with senior leadership of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of the ongoing Governance Diagnostic Assessment during the 2025 Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C.
The discussions with the World Bank centered on Kenya’s economic trajectory and key areas of collaboration, including economic performance and fiscal outlook, private sector engagement, the World Bank/Kenya portfolio, Development Policy Operation 7 (DPO-7), and upcoming pipeline projects targeting sustainable development.
Mbadi reaffirmed Kenya’s confidence in its economic prospects and underscored the importance of strong global partnerships in advancing inclusive growth and long-term prosperity.
The CS was accompanied by Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo and Central Bank Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge.
The World Bank team was led by Mr. Amit Dar, Director of Strategy and Operations for Eastern and Southern Africa, alongside Mr. Qimiao Fan, Country Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda.
Mbadi also held talks with senior officials from key IMF departments, including the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), Legal Department (LEG), Strategy, Policy and Review Department (SPR), Finance Department (FIN), and Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM).
The discussions centered on Kenya’s governance and anti-corruption frameworks, focusing on strengthening institutions, promoting transparency, and enhancing the efficiency of public financial management.
Mbadi Message to IMF
Mbadi appreciated the IMF’s continued support, stating that governance is a cornerstone of Kenya’s economic agenda.
He called for sustained efforts in strengthening institutional capacity, legal frameworks, and accountability mechanisms to reinforce public trust and drive economic resilience.
Additionally, Mbadi noted that the Governance Diagnostic Assessment presents an opportunity to benchmark Kenya’s governance practices against global standards, enabling targeted reforms and access to relevant technical assistance.
The assessment is part of Kenya’s broader engagement with the IMF to support sustainable, inclusive, and accountable economic growth.
PS Kiptoo engaged with Mr. Vitor Gaspar, Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, and Ms. Yan Liu, Director of the Legal Department, among other senior IMF officials.
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Kiptoo Discussions with MIGA
Moreover, he held a bilateral meeting with the leadership of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), including Global Director for Industries Muhamet Bamba Fall and African Regional Head Nkem Onwuaamaegbu.
The meeting discussed MIGA-supported projects in Kenya, emphasizing collaboration and aligning strategies to achieve shared development goals.
Additionally, the meeting covered MIGA’s continued engagement in Kenya, support for the government’s priority projects and public-private partnerships (PPPs), a review of the current project pipeline, and ongoing efforts around the Diaspora Bond pilot.
The meeting reaffirmed both parties’ commitment to deepening cooperation for impactful and sustainable project delivery.
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Ruto China Visit
Meanwhile, President William Ruto departed the country on April 21 for a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed stated that President Ruto will hold bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping to advance shared priorities in economic transformation, sustainable development, and global cooperation.
He will also officiate the Kenya-China Business Forum, bringing together over 100 companies from both countries to explore new opportunities in trade, investment, digital innovation, and industrial growth.
Ruto will also inaugurate the Kenya Tea Holding Centre in Fujian Province as part of efforts to boost Kenya’s agricultural exports.
The Centre is situated in one of China’s key tea regions and will enhance the visibility and market access of Kenyan tea, support smallholder farmers, and strengthen Kenya’s trade footprint in Asia.
The Head of State will also deliver a keynote address at Peking University, where he will highlight Africa’s vision for inclusive growth, leadership, and deeper South-South cooperation.
Mohamed mentioned that Kenya and China will continue aligning high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation with Kenya’s national development priorities, focusing on building a robust industrial and logistics hub for East Africa.
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