The Panel received a Request for Inspection sent by 47 people from Kenya on November 29, 2016. The Request for Inspection is of the Kenya Water and Sanitation Service Improvement Project (P096367) and the Kenya Water and Sanitation Service Improvement Project – Additional Financing (P126637). The Requesters claim they are suffering harm as a result of the World Bank’s failures in applying its policies during the planning and implementation of the project. The alleged harm includes irreversible environmental damage, food insecurity due to a lack of water for community and agricultural consumption, as well as a lack of disclosure of information and community participation. In line with its Operating Procedures, the Panel has conducted its initial due diligence and has registered the case on January 12, 2017.
A Panel team visited Kenya from February 23-28, and met with the complainants, Bank staff, government and project officials, and members of a panel of experts set up to study the project and recommend improvements. Based on information gathered during that visit and documentary evidence, the Panel, in its eligibility report to the Board, recommended not to investigate this case.
The World Bank Board of Directors on April 13 approved the Inspection Panel’s recommendation to not investigate.
The recommendation does not preclude the possibility of a future complaint based on new evidence or circumstances not currently known.
