NAIROBI: STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER

29^th June 2011

PRIME MINISTER RAILA ODINGA CALLS ON THE NEW IMF HEAD TO TACKLE HIGH FOOD AND OIL PRICES FOR AFRICA’S POOR:

Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, issued the following statement on the appointment of the new Managing Director of the IMF:

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya, I wholeheartedly congratulate and welcome Madam Christine Lagarde on her appointment as the next Managing Director for the International Monetary Fund.

Africa holds high expectations on her as the turbulence in the global economy – extremely high international prices of food and oil, and the debt crisis in Europe --   is lowering Africa’s growth prospects and deepening its poverty.

In addition, many countries in Africa are afflicted by severe drought, which has forced millions of people into hunger. I call on the IMF, under the new leadership of Christine Lagarde, to be bold and innovative in assisting Africa sustain high economic growth, maintain macroeconomic stability and achieve the Millennium Development Goals, with greater and timely flows of highly concessional resources. 

I acknowledge with appreciation the financial assistance Kenya is currently receiving from the IMF, and look forward to building stronger partnership with Kenya and IMF.”