Nairobi, March 18 -- The US government has claimed that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) tried to cover up reports of child sex abuse at Kenya's Bridge International Academies moments after investigations against the low-cost private school began.

According to the Treasury Department, the IFC entered into a "supplemental confidential" in what may have been aimed at covering up cases of sexual abuse soon after the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) started the probe.

It is a fresh blow to the IFC, the World Bank Group's private investment wing. World Bank President Ajay Banga last month rejected allegations that IFC sought to cover up reports of sexual abuse.

"We are deeply troubled by the broader accountability issues raised...