World Bank backs contentious director
William Wallis in London | Thursday, 19 June 2008
Colin Bruce, the World Bank country director at the centre of a storm of controversy during Kenya's post-election crisis, has been named as director of operations and strategy for Africa.
Officials said the appointment was not technically a promotion, but it allowed Mr Bruce to influence funding decisions for the continent as a whole.
As de facto number two in the bank's Africa hierarchy in Washington, he also has the potential to determine what lessons are drawn from the furore surrounding its strategy in Kenya.
Bank spending in Kenya nearly doubled under Mr Bruce's tenure from 2005, despite persistent evidence of high-level graft. The bank's portfolio of projects in the country is worth $1.0bn (euro642m,
Officials said the appointment was not technically a promotion, but it allowed Mr Bruce to influence funding decisions for the continent as a whole.
As de facto number two in the bank's Africa hierarchy in Washington, he also has the potential to determine what lessons are drawn from the furore surrounding its strategy in Kenya.
Bank spending in Kenya nearly doubled under Mr Bruce's tenure from 2005, despite persistent evidence of high-level graft. The bank's portfolio of projects in the country is worth $1.0bn (euro642m,