President William Ruto on Tuesday requested the World Bank to prioritise strengthening the skills, processes and resources needed to make the Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP) successful.
KUSP is a program funded by the World Bank that aims to improve urban infrastructure and services in participating counties in Kenya. The program's primary objective is to eradicate poverty and catalyse economic growth.
During the launch of the KUSP at State House, Nairobi, President William Ruto stressed the pivotal role the World Bank must play in building capacity for staff in ministries and counties to understand the program in its entirety.
He praised the World Bank for funneling Ksh133 million (1 million US dollars) to support the initiative, indicating that the counties must account for every coin spent.
"We must work together towards making KUSP a game-changer. Several components have been put there to make sure we succeed," he stated.
"I'm happy the World Bank Director has said there's Ksh100 million to support this program on capacity building. The money must be deployed to make sure the program is understood and succeeds."
"Capacity framework gives us the understanding that the implementation of the program can move seamlessly. I want to ask the World Bank to make sure that the resources at least for capacity building move ahead of any other resources so that those in municipalities, counties and staff in our Ministry can understand this program to avoid wastage, pilferage, corruption and theft."
He expressed confidence that the program will extend into the second and third years subject to satisfactory performance in the current phase.
"I want to commit to governors and colleagues that we will go out of our way to assist you to make sure the program is implemented in an accountable manner so that the people of Kenya get value for the money that we will eventually pay."
"Climate change will continue to pose mounting challenges to our development and serious threats to human health and safety especially in urban areas where 60 per cent live in informal settlements."
Additionally, he pointed out that the government is on course to develop sustainable measures to provide services from the revenues collected by the taxman and subsequently not rely on foreign loans.
"We have to pay the loans from the World Bank. That money has been contributed by other countries which has been collected from their citizens' savings. As we use other people's savings, we must grow our savings which is why we are internalising on how to raise our taxes," Ruto remarked.
