Africa-Press – Mauritius. Security has been beefed up in Nairobi as heads of state from the African continent converge for the International Development Association (IDA) summit.
The conference started on Sunday.
A spot check by the Star showed the city bristled with fully armed officers drawn from various units and formations, a tangible reminder of its significance and the weighty discussions underway.
Officers have been deployed to all major roads around and those leading to KICC which is the venue of the conference, their presence both reassuring and imposing.
Several other officers both in plain clothes and uniform could also be seen patrolling the streets to ensure the safety of the participants.
At the entrances to the venue screening, police frisked everyone entering with only those with accreditation being allowed in.
Over 20 heads of State are already in the country for the World Bank meeting that seeks to improve the lives of the people.
President William Ruto said the summit is crucial as it cements Africa’s commitment to development.
He said it is time the continent moved with the requisite pace to tackle poverty and create new economic opportunities.
IDA is part of the World Bank that invests in the future of people and the planet, with projects across 75 countries.
Established in 1960, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing grants and zero- to low-interest loans for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people’s living conditions
The leaders attending the meeting are expected to rally around an ambitious agenda, aiming to improve lives and create new opportunities, with the World Bank’s IDA as a cornerstone for success.
The summit will also witness the launch of a coalition uniting civil society, foundations, the private sector, and young people, to champion a robust replenishment of IDA’s resources.
Among the heads present are Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Guinea Amadou Oury Barh and Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire Robert Beugré Mambé.
Others are President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, Faustin-Archange Touadéra (Central African Republic), Prime Minister of Algeria Nadir Larbaoui, Julius Maada Wonie (Sierra Leone), Azali Assoumani (Comoros), Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania), Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar) and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia).
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