Kenya is seeking 18 billion shillings an equivalent of 240 million dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new lending programme covering the next five years. Planning and National Development Minister Peter Anyang Nyongo said Kenya had completed negotiations with the IMF and was waiting for a decision on its request. The IMF suspended lending to Kenya in late 2000 after the east African country failed to satisfy conditions over corruption. But the Fund and the World Bank have expressed their desire to resume lending to Kenya after new President Mwai Kibaki implemented measures to fight graft. The IMF had approved a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility programme of about $250 million in August 2000, but before lending was suspended in December Kenya had drawn only $44 million. That programme lapsed this month. Experts had expected Kenya to seek more funds from the IMF to finance the new government's many election pledges. But Nyongo said Kenya only opted for a small amount from the IMF, adding that the main aim was to win the IMF's seal of approval and in turn restore investor confidence. Kenya is banking on its ongoing aggressive fight against corruption to woo foreign investors and boost economic growth.