Kibaki leads talks with donors today
East African Standard, - Whether Kenya will get donor funds depends on a two-day meeting that opens in Nairobi this morning.
And President Kibaki is expected to lead the Government in dismissing allegations of corruption and in making a strong pitch for financial support.
The President, his ministers and top civil servants are also expected to make it clear that Nairobi is not begging for donor funding but believes it has a legitimate case for support.
The President, who is set to open the two-day Donor Consultative Group meeting at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel, is expected to set the mood for the meeting which experts say could be highly charged.
President Kibaki is likely to outline the Government’s achievements and commitment in the fight against corruption and economic management.
The donor community and agencies, on the other hand, will be gauging the Government’s commitment to good governance and prudent economic management before releasing the pledged funds.
During the last Consultative Group meeting in November 2003, the donors overwhelmingly endorsed the Government’s Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) and pledged Sh300 billion for its implementation.
However, barely six months later, most donors led by the European Union and the UK developed cold feet and some withheld their pledges following allegations of new corruption in the Government.
Instead the donors led by British High Commissioner Edward Clay unleashed continuous criticism against the Government over the alleged corruption, pouring cold water on efforts aimed at redressing the issue.
Analysts say specifically President Kibaki will be hard pressed to explain why he has not sacked some of his ministers linked to corrupt activities.
The Government which has worked overtime to convince the donors that there are no new cases of corruption will also revisit the list of 20 cases of alleged corruption tabled by Clay.
Issues of governance that have threatened to deny the Government the much-needed budgetary support for pushing forward its ambitious economic blueprint are likely to dominate the meeting.
Sources say the Government has in the last two months tried to downplay the matter by holding meetings with the donors to strike a compromise before today’s meeting.
However, the donors seem to have hardened their position, demanding that the Government presents its case at today’s forum.
"The Government will try to convince the donors that this government is not as corrupt as it has been perceived," said Finance minister David Mwiraria last week.
Mwiraria will co-chair the meeting with the out-going World Bank Country Director Makhtar Diop.
