Kenya endorses re-election of Kim as World Bank chief

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday nominated and endorsed Jim Yong Kim to serve a second term as president of the World Bank Group.

In a statement, Kenyatta said his action was in response to an announcement from the World Bank Group in Washington DC that the bank was inviting member countries to nominate a candidate for the position of the World Bank Group President.

"In a short period of time, Kim has made a huge contribution to reduce poverty and has given hope to millions of people around the globe living below the poverty line," Kenyatta said in the statement.

According to Kenyatta, Kim is very passionate about development and has given special attention to Africa's development needs since he became president of the World Bank Group.

The Kenyan leader said under Kim's leadership, the International Development Association, an institution which finances development projects for Low Income Countries (LICs), has grown from strength to strength.

Kim, the incumbent World Bank president, has expressed his intention to seek renewal of his term as a candidate for the next chief of the international body. Endit