- Kenya hosted the 30th meeting in Nairobi in 1994.
- In his address, Ruto highlighted the significance of meeting urging leaders present to reflect on the progress of the continent.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has made a passionate appeal to the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) to consider granting Kenya the opportunity to host its meeting in 2054 as it marks its 90th anniversary.
Ruto who was giving his remarks during the official opening of the group’s meeting at KICC said Kenya was privileged to host this year’s annual event.
This, he said, is happening as the bank celebrates its 60th anniversary.
“It is a great honour for Kenya to host the 59th meeting of the African Development Bank meeting," he said.
In 1994, the head of state explained that Nairobi was also privileged to host the bank’s general meetings on the occasion to mark the 30th anniversary.
“I have requested the AfDB to offer Kenya the 90th, and I promise even if I would be walking with a stick I will attend,” he said amidst laughter and cheers from the crowd.
In his address, Ruto highlighted the significance of meeting and urging leaders present to reflect on their progress on the continent in realising the founding vision of the institution.
“It embodies the pan-African ideology of sovereignty, prosperity and unity,” he said.
The founding communique of the bank, he noted, declares the determination of African nations to use all its resources to lead the countries to independence and achieve development and prosperity in unity.
The annual general meetings of the continental bank started May 27 and are set to end Friday.
This year's theme is “Africa’s Transformation: the African Development Bank, and the Reform of the Global Financial Architecture".
Ruto was scheduled to join other heads of state in a high-level presidential dialogue to discuss the slow pace of transformation in Africa, identifying the key challenges and opportunities.
He added that while the bank has surmounted various challenges, it has managed to achieve much in supporting economic growth and stability in the continent.
"It has become Africa's premier development financing institution. Today it has financed 5,432 projects across our land, 4, 036 which have been completed," he said.
"It also provided a mechanism to coordinate the fight against poverty, improved the standards of African financial institutions and other institutions and contributed significantly to conflict prevention and resolution."