NAIROBI, Kenya – The World Bank has called on Kenya to urgently implement a series of anti-corruption reforms tied to its latest funding package, warning that weak governance and poor public financial management continue to undermine service delivery and economic growth.
The reforms are part of conditions attached to the lender’s recently approved financing programme for Kenya, which had been delayed throughout much of 2025 amid concerns over the government’s pace in implementing anti-graft measures.
Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, World Bank Country Director for Kenya Qimiao Fan said corruption remains a major obstacle to development, diverting resources away from critical sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.
“Every shilling lost to weak controls, corruption and poor procurement is a shilling that does not go to schools, roads or health clinics,” Fan said.
The World Bank has identified four key reforms it wants implemented, including stricter conflict-of-interest regulations for public officials, the rollout of an electronic procurement system to improve transparency in public tenders, and the establishment of a unified Treasury account to enhance oversight of government spending.
The lender has also renewed calls for the enactment of the long-delayed Whistleblower Protection Bill, which is intended to safeguard individuals who expose corruption and misuse of public resources.
However, some of the proposed measures are expected to face political resistance. Analysts say enforcing conflict-of-interest rules could prove challenging, while the whistleblower legislation is likely to encounter opposition in Parliament.
Fan argued that the reforms are essential not only for restoring public confidence but also for addressing growing frustrations among Kenyans over accountability in government spending.
He pointed to the 2024 anti-tax protests, which erupted over proposed tax increases and culminated in demonstrators storming Parliament, as evidence of mounting public demand for transparency and responsible fiscal management.
“The 2024 protests showed that Kenyans are demanding fair and transparent fiscal management that delivers quality public services,” Fan said. “You cannot ask citizens to tighten their belts without proof that the money they contribute through taxes is being managed honestly, efficiently and for the public good.”
The World Bank’s latest economic assessment shows Kenya’s economy expanded by 4.6 percent, but the country continues to grapple with a heavy debt burden and insufficient formal-sector job creation for its growing population.
The lender also warned that rising fuel and food prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could worsen living conditions, estimating that up to one million additional Kenyans may have slipped below the poverty line.