President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday nominated and endorsed Jim Yong Kim for a second term at the helm of the World Bank.
Early this week, World Bank Group headquarters in Washington DC told member countries to nominate a candidate.
Uhuru described Kim as a visionary and an extraordinary leader. "He is deeply committed to poverty reduction and promoting shared prosperity across the globe by 2030. He is very passionate about development and has given special attention to Africa's development needs since he became President of the World Bank Group," he said in a statement yesterday.
Uhuru said Kim has given hope to millions of people around the globe living below the poverty line. "This is a significant achievement, which, as policy makers on the continent, we must all recognise and appreciate. The result speaks for itself," he said.
Two weeks ago, President Barack Obama also nominated Kim.
Kim took over the leadership of the bank in April 2012 and he became the first person without a political and financial background to lead the bank.
Uhuru said during Kim's first term International Development Associationas – an institution which finances projects for low income countries– has grown.
"We can all look forward to greater success for humanity under his able leadership," he said.
Kim is credited for spearheading the bank’s response to the Ebola epidemic and the refugee crisis in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and for carrying out reforms at the World Bank.
The selection process could be concluded in October.