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World Bank boss in row over
Kibaki
Story by NATION Correspondent
Publication Date: 1/11/2008
A row is brewing over a confidential memo from the World Bank’s
Kenya office that supports President Kibaki’s victory in the
disputed elections.
According to UK’s The Financial Times, a story headlined “Leaked
memo deepens Kenya crisis”, the leaked January 1 briefing note,
originating from Mr Colin Bruce, the World Bank’s country director,
appears to support President Kibaki’s victory on the basis of
“oral briefings and documents from senior United Nations
Development Programme officials."
The memo claims that “the considered view of the UN is that the
Electoral Commission of Kenya announcement of a Kibaki win is
correct”.
However, Michele Montas, a spokeswoman for the UN
secretary-general, denied that the UN had adopted that position.
UNDP officials said they had neither monitored the elections nor
provided any assessment suggesting a Kibaki victory.
The lending institution has denied taking sides in the disputed
election results.
In Washington, the World Bank’s head of external relations stated
that it was not in their ways of working to take sides in a
political contest.
He was quoted in The Financial Times saying: “The bank does not
take political positions. Neither Colin Bruce nor the bank has a
position on (President) Kibaki or (opposition leader Raila) Odinga.”
In Washington, the World Bank’s head of external relations stated
that they do not take sides in a political contest.
Mr Bruce was later in the day roped in another controversy as ODM
claimed that he had led a team which drew up an agreement which
President Kibaki declined to sign. The document, said ODM
secretary-general Anyang Nyong’o, also drew contribution from US,
UK and French envoys.
Another memo
However, the Government disowned the document and denied sending
any emissaries to Mr Bruce to author the memo which urged the
international community to give credibility to President Kibaki’s
victory.
A statement by the Presidential Press Services said: “At no time
did President Kibaki send any emissary to the World Bank Country
director to discuss a document of any nature. The Government,
therefore, categorically disassociates itself from the content of
that document.”
In Nairobi, the PPS said that the Government had been taken aback
by the memo and sought to assure the public and the international
community that it was committed to the mediation efforts by
President Kufuor.
“The Government remains committed to constructive dialogue and
welcomes the initiative taken by President John Kufuor,” it said.
The Ghanaian President, who chairs the African Union, arrived in
the country on Tuesday evening to mediate between President Kibaki
and Mr Odinga in a bid to end the violence in which at least 500
people have been killed.
President Kufuor’s mediation mission was supported by the United
States, Britain and European Union.
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