Kindiki urges development partners to back bottom up economic transformation

Prof. Kindiki said this will boost collaboration and ensure faster implementation of ongoing and future projects.

“We are requesting our development partners to align existing and future programmes with priorities of the Kenya government especially the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda spearheaded by this administration and the Kenya Vision 2030,” he said.

The Deputy President spoke on Thursday when he hosted the 13th Development Partnership Forum (DPF) at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi.

The DP acknowledged the crucial role played by the partners in disbursement and absorption of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) outlining key achievements already realised.

Some of the multi-billion-shilling projects jointly undertaken with partners are Isiolo-Mandera infrastructure project and the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program among others.

“We do not take for granted that with the collaboration with Development Partners, the Government of Kenya has made impressive achievements in terms of socio-economic development as well as the management of our environment and natural resources,” he said.

The Forum is co-chaired by the Deputy President and Germany ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth and United Nations Resident Coordinator Stephen Jackson.

It aims to strengthen coordination among the partners and to keep track of co-funded programmes and projects.

Prof. Kindiki said the Forum is important in addressing sticking issues such as faster release of funds, counterpart funding by the government, off budget support, stalled projects, improving the legislative environment to remove stumbling blocks and others.

“The absence of clear, predictable counterpart funding requirements embedded within financing agreements continues to pose a serious impediment to project implementation.

We have also identified the challenge of uncoordinated off-budget support, whose lack of centralized visibility presents risks such as double allocation of resources to similar projects, ineffective planning and resource allocation, and possible lack of accountability,” he noted.

The Forum was attended by senior representatives of various development partners, respective Cabinet Secretaries and members of constitutional commissions and offices.