A Tough Act for Kenya's World Bank Boss.

(From The Nation (Kenya) - AAGM)

Byline: Ben Singer

Colin Bruce appears nervous, sitting at the head of a long boardroom table at World Bank's Upper Hill, Nairobi, offices. Several fidgety media-relations staff on the periphery indicate exclusive interviews with the bank's country director, like the one given to Smart Company last week, aren't an everyday occurrence.

But Mr Bruce soon hits his stride, speaking of Kenya's development prospects and challenges, the role the World Bank can play and his own passion for development.

Originally from Guyana, a former British colony on the north coast of South America, Mr Bruce has been in his current post for eight months. He is a Bank lifer, though, having "grown up professionally," as he puts it, in the 17 years he spent in various capacities including a stint in Kenya from 1989.

Frosty relations

The World Bank lends heavily to Kenya, with the most recent loan tally reaching $718.8 million (Sh51.5 billion at current exchange rates). Most of this is ear-marked for infrastructure improvements, but also includes loans for health and education as well as agriculture and environment.

It hasn't always been smooth sailing for the …