World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim links local technology to peace

The World Bank has said Kenya’s technological innovations such as M-Pesa could be the key to peace and development on the continent.

On Wednesday, World Bank Chief Jim Yong Kim admitted he could not resist buying an item from a recent graduate using M-Pesa because of the ease with which it made the transaction go.

“Today, I expressed my great admiration to President Kenyatta about the things happening in Kenya that are truly leading the entire world.

“I personally started my own M-Pesa account and I bought a watch from a recent graduate of Strathmore University who is starting his online business,” he told journalists at State House on Wednesday night.

WAR AND HUNGER

Dr Kim was in town with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank as well as the European Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad).

They pledged Sh716 billion for peace in the Horn of Africa where war and hunger are regular visitors.

“Our work to restore peace where conflict has broken out in the region, and to further the economic integration that will lead to inclusive prosperity, has long required and attracted like-minded partners,” President Kenyatta said.

But the World Bank boss argued innovations such as M-Pesa could drive the continent out of the political mess, and Kenya is leading the way.

The story of M-Pesa has been retold countless times. But it is the way he linked its impact to peace and development that made the difference.

“Our hope is that the example of building both the public and private sector in such innovative ways in Kenya will be an example not just for the continent but for the whole world. We have tremendous optimism about the future of Kenya and we are privileged to be part of it,” he added after a meeting with Mr Kenyatta.

The World Bank operations in Kenya has a portfolio of about $8.5 billion and have made financial commitments to Kenya to the tune of $4.7 billion through its affiliate, the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The World Bank chief praised President Kenyatta’s leadership so far, but added that devolution needed to be boosted to bring services closer to the people.

“We came here with a common message: that there cannot be any lasting peace and security without development. And there can be no development without peace and security,” Mr Ban said at the same event in Nairobi.

To the UN and the World Bank, the problem of Somalia and South Sudan means Kenya’s role is important.

The European Union is helping finance the Amisom troops to which Kenya Defence Forces is part.

Mr Ban visited the Dadaab Refugee Camp on Wednesday and said he was “humbled by the things I saw”.

He was accompanied by Dr Jim, Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohammed and her Interior counterpart Joseph Lenku.

“I was crying inside. Seeing how people were living here was heart-breaking. This is a tragedy — a man-made tragedy.

“If leaders had listened more to the aspirations of their people, we would not be here,” said the UN boss whose parents were refugees during the Korean War.

The camp currently hosts mostly Somali refugees numbering about Sh356,000 according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

DRIVING PEACE AND SECURITY

“I am delighted to note that President Kenyatta is leading peace and security efforts in the region to create opportunities for communities in the Horn of Africa to engage in productive economic activities and to improve their livelihoods.”

“This is critically important especially to the poor living in arid and semi-arid areas. Finding a long term solution to Somalia is also a key agenda to solving the human suffering of the people in Dadaab refugee camp is going to depend on our solving the problem of development in Southern Somalia.”