African Development Bank Act

LAWS OF KENYA
THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ACT
CAP. 492
Revised and published by the National Council for Law Reporting
with the authority of the Attorney-General as gazetted by the Government Printer
www.kenyalaw.org

Kenya
African Development Bank Act
Cap. 492
Legislation as at 7 April 1964
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Share widely and freely.

African Development Bank Act (Cap. 492)
Contents
1. Short title ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Interpretation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3. Financial provision ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
4. Certain provisions of Agreement to have force of law ..................................................................................................................... 1
SCHEDULE ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

.................................................................................................................................................... 2

African Development Bank Act (Cap. 492) Kenya
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ACT
CAP. 492
Assented to on 24 March 1964
Commenced on 7 April 1964
An Act of Parliament to provide for the carrying out of the obligations of Kenya arising under the
Articles of Agreement establishing the African Development Bank, and to provide for matters related
thereto
WHEREAS at the Conference of Finance Ministers held at Khartoum in the Sudan in July and August 1963,
there were drawn up Articles of an agreement (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the Bank Agreement) for the
establishment and operation of the African Development Bank (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the Bank):
AND WHEREAS the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning has, on behalf of the Government, signed the
Articles of the Bank Agreement deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations:
AND WHEREAS the Governor-General of Kenya has by instrument of ratification ratified the Bank Agreement on
behalf of the Government. 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the African Development Bank Act. 2.

of ratification ratified the Bank Agreement on
behalf of the Government. 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the African Development Bank Act. 2.

Interpretation
In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, "Minister" means the Minister for the time being
responsible for Finance. 3. Financial provision
(1) There shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund without further appropriation
than this Act all payments required to be made from time to time by the Government to the Bank
under the terms of the Bank Agreement. (2) For the purpose of providing any sums required for making payments under this section, the
Minister may, on behalf of the Government, make such arrangements as are necessary, or may
raise loans by the creation and issue of securities bearing such rates of interest and subject to such
conditions as to repayment, redemption or otherwise as he thinks fit, and the principal and interest
of such securities and the charges and expenses incurred in connexion with their issue shall be
charged on and paid out of the consolidated fund. (3) Any moneys received by the Government from the Bank, or raised under subsection (2) of this
section, shall be paid into and form part of the Consolidated Fund and shall be available in any
manner in which the Consolidated Fund is available. 4.

ection, shall be paid into and form part of the Consolidated Fund and shall be available in any
manner in which the Consolidated Fund is available. 4.

Certain provisions of Agreement to have force of law
The provisions of the Bank Agreement set out in the Schedule to this Act shall have the force of law in
Kenya:
Provided that nothing in the Bank Agreement shall be construed as—
(i) entitling the Bank to import goods free of customs duty without any restriction on their subsequent
sale in Kenya; or
(ii) conferring on the Bank any exemption from duties or taxes which form part of the price of the
goods sold; or
1

their subsequent
sale in Kenya; or
(ii) conferring on the Bank any exemption from duties or taxes which form part of the price of the
goods sold; or
1

African Development Bank Act (Cap. 492) Kenya
(iii) conferring on the Bank any exemption from duties or taxes which are in fact no more than charges
for services rendered.

ank Act (Cap. 492) Kenya
(iii) conferring on the Bank any exemption from duties or taxes which are in fact no more than charges
for services rendered.

SCHEDULE
PROVISIONS OF THE BANK AGREEMENT WHICH
ARE TO HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW IN KENYA
[Section 4]
Article 23 - General Powers
In addition to the powers provided elsewhere in this Agreement, the Bank shall have power to —
(a) borrow funds in member countries or elsewhere, and in that connexion to furnish such collateral or other
security as it shall determine, provided always that—
(i) before making a sale of its obligations in the market of a member, the Bank shall have obtained its
approval;
(ii) where the obligations of the Bank are to be denominated in the currency of a member, the Bank
shall have obtained its approval; and
(iii) where the funds to be borrowed are to be included in its ordinary capital resources, the Bank shall
have obtained, where appropriate, the approval of the members referred to in subparagraphs (i)
and (ii) of this paragraph that the proceeds may be exchanged for any other currency without any
restrictions;
(b) buy and sell securities the Bank has issued or guaranteed or in which it has invested, provided always that
it shall have obtained the approval of any member in whose territory the securities are to be bought or
sold;
(c) guarantee or underwrite securities in which it has invested in order to facilitate their sale;
(d) invest funds not needed in its operations in such obligations as it may determine and invest funds held by
the Bank for pensions or similar purposes in marketable securities;
(e) undertake activities incidental to its operations such as, among others, the promotion of consortia for
financing which serves the purpose of the Bank and comes within its functions;
(f) (i) provide all technical advice and assistance which serve its purpose and come within its functions;
and
(ii) where expenditure incurred by such a service is not reimbursed, charge the net income of the Bank
therewith and, in the first five years of its operations, use up to one percent of its paid-up capital on
such expenditure; provided always that the total expenditure of the Bank on such services in each
year of that period does not exceed one-fifth of that percentage; and
(g) exercise such other powers as shall be necessary or desirable in furtherance of its purpose and functions,
consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

se such other powers as shall be necessary or desirable in furtherance of its purpose and functions,
consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 24 - Special Borrowing Powers
(1) The Bank may request any member to loan amounts of its currency to the Bank in order to finance
expenditure in respect of goods or services produced in the territory of that member for the purpose of a
project to be carried out in the territory of another member. (2) Unless the member concerned invokes economic and financial difficulties which, in its opinion, are likely
to be provoked or aggravated by the granting of such a loan to the Bank, that member shall comply with
the request of the Bank. The loan shall be made for a period to be agreed with the Bank, which shall be in
relation to the duration of the project which the proceeds of that loan are designed to finance. 2

eriod to be agreed with the Bank, which shall be in
relation to the duration of the project which the proceeds of that loan are designed to finance. 2

African Development Bank Act (Cap. 492) Kenya
(3) Unless the member agrees otherwise, the aggregate amount outstanding in respect of its loans made
to the Bank pursuant to this Article shall not, at any time, exceed the equivalent of the amount of its
subscription to the capital stock of the Bank. (4) Loans to the Bank made pursuant to this Article shall bear interest, payable by the Bank to the lending
member, at a rate which shall correspond to the average rate of interest paid by the Bank on its borrowings
for Special Funds during a period of one year preceding the conclusion of the loan agreement. This rate
shall in no event exceed a maximum rate which the Board of Governors shall determine from time to time. (5) The Bank shall repay the loan, and pay the interest due in respect thereof, in the currency of the lending
member or in a currency acceptable to the latter. (6) All resources obtained by the Bank by virtue of the provisions of this Article shall constitute a Special
Fund.

currency acceptable to the latter. (6) All resources obtained by the Bank by virtue of the provisions of this Article shall constitute a Special
Fund.

Article 27 - Use of Currencies
(1) Members may not maintain or impose any restrictions on the holding or use by the Bank or by any
recipient from the Bank, for payments anywhere, of the following—
(a) gold or convertible currencies received by the Bank in payment of subscriptions to the capital stock
of the Bank from its members;
(b) currencies of members purchased with the gold or convertible currencies referred to in the
preceding subparagraph;
(c) currencies obtained by the Bank by borrowing, pursuant to paragraph (2) of Article 23 of this
Agreement, for inclusion in its ordinary capital resources;
(d) gold or currencies received by the Bank in payment on account of principal, interest, dividends
or other charges in respect of loans or investments made out of any of the funds referred to in
subparagraphs (a) to (c) or in payment of commissions or fees in respect of guarantees issued by the
Bank; and
(e) currencies, other than its own, received by a member from the Bank in distribution of the net
income of the Bank in accordance with Article 42 of this Agreement.

other than its own, received by a member from the Bank in distribution of the net
income of the Bank in accordance with Article 42 of this Agreement.

(2) Members may not maintain or impose any restrictions on the holding or use by the Bank, or by any
recipient from the Bank, for payments anywhere, of currency of a member received by the Bank which
does not come within the provisions of the preceding paragraph, unless—
(a) that member declares that it desires the use of such currency to be restricted to payments for goods
or services produced in its territory; or
(b) such currency forms part of the special resources of the Bank and its use is subject to special rules
and regulations. (3) Members may not maintain or impose any restrictions on the holding or use by the Bank, for making
amortization or anticipatory payments or for repurchasing –in whole or in part – its obligations, of
currencies received by the Bank in repayment of direct loans made out of its ordinary capital resources. (4) The Bank shall not use gold or currencies which it holds for the purchase of other currencies of its
members except—
(a) in order to meet its existing obligations; or
(b) pursuant to a decision of the Board of Directors adopted by a two-thirds majority of the total voting
power of the members.

isting obligations; or
(b) pursuant to a decision of the Board of Directors adopted by a two-thirds majority of the total voting
power of the members.

Article 28 - Maintenance of Value of the Currency Holdings of the Bank
(1) Whenever the par value of the currency of a member is reduced in terms of the unit of account defined in
paragraph (1) (b) of Article 5 of this Agreement, or its foreign exchange value has, in the opinion of the
Bank, depreciated to a significant extent, that member shall pay to the Bank within a reasonable time an
3

n exchange value has, in the opinion of the
Bank, depreciated to a significant extent, that member shall pay to the Bank within a reasonable time an
3

African Development Bank Act (Cap. 492) Kenya
amount of its currency required to maintain the value of all such currency held by the Bank, excepting
currency derived by the Bank from its borrowing. (2) Whenever the par value of the currency of a member is increased in terms of the said unit of account, or its
foreign exchange value has, in the opinion of the Bank, appreciated to a significant extent, the Bank shall
pay to that member within a reasonable time an amount of that currency required to adjust the value of all
such currency held by the Bank, excepting currency derived by the Bank from its borrowing. (3) The Bank may waive the provisions of this Article where a uniform proportionate change in the par value
of the currencies of all its members takes place.

Bank may waive the provisions of this Article where a uniform proportionate change in the par value
of the currencies of all its members takes place.

Article 51 - Status of Bank
In the territory of each member the Bank shall possess full juridical personality and, in particular, full
capacity—
Article 52 - Position of Bank with Regard to Judicial Proceedings
(1) The Bank shall enjoy immunity from every form of legal process except in cases arising out of the exercise
of its borrowing powers when it may be sued only in a court of competent jurisdiction in the territory of
a member in which the Bank has its principal office, or in the territory of a member or non-member State
where it has appointed an agent for the purpose of accepting service or notice of process or has issued or
guaranteed securities. No actions shall, however, be brought by members or persons acting for or deriving
claims from members. (2) The property and assets of the Bank shall, wherever located and by whomsoever held, be immune from all
forms of seizure, attachment or execution before the delivery of final judgment against the Bank.

r located and by whomsoever held, be immune from all
forms of seizure, attachment or execution before the delivery of final judgment against the Bank.

Article 53 - Immunity of Assets and Archives of Bank
(1) Property and assets of the Bank, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from
search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation or any other form of taking or foreclosure by executive or
legislative action. (2) The archives of the Bank and, in general, all documents belonging to it, or held by it, shall be inviolable,
wherever located. Article 54 - Freedom of Bank Assets from Restriction
To the extent necessary to carry out the purpose and functions of the Bank and subject to the provisions
of this Agreement, all property and other assets of the Bank shall be exempt from restrictions, regulations,
controls and moratoria of any nature. Article 55 - Privilege for Communications of Bank
Official communications of the Bank shall be accorded by each member the same treatment that it accords
to the official communications of other members.

ficial communications of the Bank shall be accorded by each member the same treatment that it accords
to the official communications of other members.

Article 56 - Personal Immunities and Privileges
(1) All governors, directors, alternates, officers and employees of the Bank—
(i) shall be immune from legal process with respect to acts performed by them in their official capacity;
(ii) where they are not local nationals, shall be accorded the same immunities from immigration
restrictions, alien registration requirements and national service obligations, and the same
facilities as regards exchange regulations as are accorded by members to the representatives,
officials and employees of comparable rank of other members; and
(iii) shall be granted the same treatment in respect of travelling facilities as is accorded by members to
representatives, officials and employees of comparable rank of other members. (2) Experts and consultants performing missions for the Bank shall be accorded such immunities and
privileges as are, in the opinion of the Bank, necessary for the independent exercise of their functions
during the period of their mission, including the time spent on journeys in connexion therewith. 4

ary for the independent exercise of their functions
during the period of their mission, including the time spent on journeys in connexion therewith. 4

African Development Bank Act (Cap. 492) Kenya
Article 57 - Exemption of Bank from Taxation
(1) The Bank, its property, other assets, income and its operations and transactions, shall be exempt from all
taxation and from all customs duties. The Bank shall also be exempt from any obligation relating to the
payment, withholding or collection of any tax or duty. (2) No tax shall be levied on or in respect of salaries and emoluments paid by the Bank to directors, alternates,
officers and other professional staff of the Bank. (3) No tax of any kind shall be levied on any obligation or security issued by the Bank, including any dividend
or interest thereon, by whosoever held—
(i) which discriminates against such obligation or security solely because it is issued by the Bank; or
(ii) if the sole jurisdictional basis for such taxation is the place or currency in which it is issued, made
payable or paid, or the location of any office or place of business maintained by the Bank.

ation is the place or currency in which it is issued, made
payable or paid, or the location of any office or place of business maintained by the Bank.

(4) No tax of any kind shall be levied on any obligation or security guaranteed by the Bank, including any
dividend or interest thereon, by whomsoever held—
(i) which discriminates against such obligation or security solely because it is guaranteed by the Bank;
or
(ii) if the sole jurisdictional basis for such taxation is the location of any office or place of business
maintained by the Bank. Article 59 - Application of Immunities, Exemptions and Privileges
The immunities, exemptions and privileges provided in this Chapter are granted in the interests of the
Bank. The Board of Directors may waive, to such extent and upon such conditions as it may determine,
the immunities and exemptions provided in Articles 52, 54, 56 and 57 of this Agreement in cases where its
action would, in its opinion, further the interests of the Bank. The President shall have the right and the
duty to waive the immunity of any official in cases where, in his opinion, the immunity would impede the
course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Bank. 5