World Bank Stories

Ikuje Garre, iteremke Modogashe! What are the facts in Ruto's claimed road project?
Barack Oduor  |  Feb 20, 2025

As some Kenyans, mostly the youth, criticise Ruto for making yet another promise, which they doubt he will keep, others have printed t-shirts with ill...

Consumers brace for tougher times as report shows global rise in food prices
Alfred Onyango  |  Feb 07, 2025

Ideally, when agricultural, cereal and export price indices increase, it often signals a rise in the cost of essential food commodities like grains an...

African nations seek to connect 300 million people to power by 2030
Reuters  |  Jan 28, 2025

The continent has the highest number of people without access to electricity globally and is racing to connect homes to power by 2030 under a plan dub...

Africa is second most unequal region in the world - World Bank
Alfred Onyango  |  Jan 26, 2025

Additionally, the lender highlights that the region has also made slow progress in expanding the ranks of its middle class, additionally stating that...

Treasury report: China tops list of Kenya’s debt payments to external creditors
Lucy Mumbi  |  Dec 30, 2024

China received more in debt payments than multilateral lenders, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Why digital goods make up a smaller share of imports in Africa -World Bank
Alfred Onyango  |  Dec 28, 2024

The global lender attributes the smaller import share of the essential commodities to high duties and taxes that consequently increase their cost.

Developing nations still off-track in poverty reduction - World Bank report
Alfred Onyango  |  Dec 24, 2024

Today, about 700 million people or 8.5 per cent of the global population, live in extreme poverty on less than $2.15 (Sh280) a day.

World Bank staff question Ethiopia debt assessment reached with IMF, memo shows
Reuters  |  Dec 24, 2024

The authors suggest that based on the DSA, Ethiopia is facing a short-term liquidity crunch, and not a long-term solvency issue, a point of contention...

Relief for Somalia as Russia announces cancellation of $48.1 million debt
Abdirahman Khalif  |  Dec 21, 2024

With international cooperation and a commitment to reforms, Somalia is poised to rebuild its economy and improve the lives of its citizens.

World Bank places Kenya among nations with highest debt burdens
Lucy Mumbi  |  Dec 18, 2024

Kenya’s debt service costs on external debt more than doubled in 2023, rising from Sh403 billion to Sh839 billion. This sharp increase was attributed...

World Bank warns Kenya on unsolicited PPP deals after Adani Group contract cancellations
Amina Wako  |  Dec 11, 2024

The World Bank warned that such practices could erode public trust and stoke protests.

State's high domestic borrowing draining credit for private sector – World Bank
Lucy Mumbi  |  Dec 10, 2024

The report emphasised the urgency of accelerating structural reforms, particularly in light of Kenya’s fiscal constraints.

World Bank cuts Kenya's 2024 growth estimate to 4.7 per cent on fiscal challenges
Reuters  |  Dec 10, 2024

Kenya has managed to stabilise its foreign exchange rate, boost hard currency reserves held by the Central Bank and lower inflation this year.

Swimming in loans: Kenya’s foreign borrowing hits Sh898 billion in 2023-2024 fiscal year
Lucy Mumbi  |  Dec 09, 2024

Principal repayments exceeded Sh500 billion in the past year alone, highlighting Kenya's growing debt burden.

World Bank wins $100 billion replenishment of fund for poorest countries
Reuters  |  Dec 08, 2024

The total exceeds the previous $93 billion International Development Association replenishment announced in December 2021.

Kenya tops EAC peers in tackling school dropout among adolescent girls- report
Alfred Onyango  |  Dec 01, 2024

The study report reveals that in Kenya, 72 per cent of adolescent girls aged 15-19 are currently in school, not employed, childless, and unmarried.

Exclusive: Kenya in talks for fresh Sh112.8bn loan from World Bank, AfDB, says official
Reuters  |  Nov 20, 2024

A spokesperson in the World Bank's Kenya office confirmed the talks for new funding, which fell under its "Development Policy Operations" (DPO) with t...

Why adaptive insurance could best address constant exposure of the poor to climate disasters
Alfred Onyango  |  Nov 16, 2024

The World Bank attributes the ongoing vulnerability to the lack of comprehensive social insurance programmes designed to safeguard a broader segment o...

Global poverty reduction efforts stall, putting eradication goals at risk, World Bank warns
Alfred Onyango  |  Nov 09, 2024

In Kenya, the lender says the country has been successful in translating economic growth into poverty reduction, but this progress is unevenly distrib...

Relief for consumers as commodity prices are set to fall 5 per cent next year
Alfred Onyango  |  Nov 08, 2024

The easing commodity prices, according to a majority of the respondents, has made it somewhat more manageable to navigate the increasingly high cost o...

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