Nominated Senator Crystal Asige through a Senate Order Paper dated Tuesday, July 2, sought to be furnished with information on the conditions under which the World Bank insisted on before advancing Kenya a loan.
The Senator was aggrieved by reports that Kenya will need to integrate 400,000 refugees as a condition for disbursing a Ksh156 billion loan.
The loan was issued to Kenya on May 30, as part of measures to help the Kenya Kwanza administration address short-term fiscal pressures.
"Nominated Senator (Sen. Crystal Asige, MP) to seek a statement regarding an allocation of Ksh156 billion given by the World Bank, to the Kenya Government, for integration of 400,000 refugees," the order paper read in part.
According to the Order Paper, Asige is seeking the statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget.
While receiving the loan, President William Ruto's administration agreed to easen bureaucracy and simplify procedures of refugees seeking work permits.
Additionally, Kenya committed to update regulations that are used to recognise refugee identification documents.
The full implementation of the Refugee Act of 2021 is also a condition of the loan.
Should this be executed as envisioned by the World Bank, Kenya will intergrate over 400,000 refugees to the economy by the year 2027.
While integration of refugees to Kenyan economy was one of conditions for obtaining the loan, Ruto's administration was also given other conditions that would ensure equality, transparency as well as fight effects of climate change.
“On climate, this will support Kenya’s ambitions on green public transport, increasing forest cover, and leveraging climate finance, including through carbon credits and green and sustainability-linked bonds,” World Bank noted while advancing the loan.
The Kenya Kwanza administration will also be expected to push forward and include a modernised and enhanced social protection system.