EADB announced her exit, effective December 31, 2024. Benard Mono, the bank’s head of finance, will act as interim director-general. Recruitment for a permanent replacement is also ongoing.
EADB praised Ms. Yeda for her service since joining in 2008. The Kenyan banker and lawyer also chaired the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) board. Her tenure at KPLC ended after the Kenya Kwanza administration removed her.
Ms. Yeda’s leadership at EADB also faced controversies. In May 2023, former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u raised concerns about $2.8 million spent on legal fees from 2014 to 2020. In December 2022, she was ousted from KPLC over allegations tied to a flawed power purchase deal. The deal involved Sh17 billion paid for undelivered power from the Lake Turkana Wind Project.
Conflict of interest allegations followed her tenure. In November 2022, Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap questioned her roles at EADB and KPLC. He suggested her dual positions influenced the Lake Turkana deal.
In 2016, EADB staff accused Ms. Vivienne of favoring Kenyan projects. They claimed she delayed projects in other partner states. EADB’s members include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Ms. Yeda’s departure ends a significant yet contentious chapter for the bank.
