Kenyan Economy Crippled by AIDS, Government Tells Donors

At a meeting in Nairobi that vernment Tells Donorsends today, foreign donors were told that the spread of HIV/AIDS is crippling Kenya's economy and could reduce economic growth by 10 percent in five years unless more is done. "Since the emergence of HIV/AIDS in 1984 in Kenya, the scourge has had a devastating effect on the Kenyan economy," President Mwai Kibaki's government said at Monday's start of the two-day Consultative Group meeting. At least 1.5 million Kenyan deaths are attributed to HIV/AIDS, more than 1 million children have been orphaned, and the disease's long-term impact on the country's work force has been severe, the government said. "As a result of the decline in productivity and income levels, economic growth and development is negatively affected," it said. The government has faced tough questions from donors at the conference, which is being held amid mounting domestic and foreign criticism over the Kibaki administration's failure to rein in corruption.

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