Nairobi, April 28 -- Kenya was forced to seek an estimated $300 million (Sh38.8 billion) emergency World Bank funds to help it manage the economic shocks triggered by the Iran war.

Kenya is the first larger emerging economy to publicly confirm a formal request to the World Bank, although a number of countries, such as Egypt, have said they have approached multilateral lenders.

The country is scrambling to stave off shortages of essential commodities including petrol, while managing cost increases that could drive up inflation.

Turning to the Bretton Woods lender for loans is not new for Kenya, which is also hoping to reach an agreement to draw down up to $750 million (Sh96 billion) from the existing Development Policy Operation (DPO) l...