Kenya's international membership dues hit Sh7.75 billion in 2024, new report shows

Kenya's payments to international and regional organisations have surged to Sh7.75 billion in the financial year leading to June 2024, according to a new report tabled in Parliament.

This marks an increase from the previous year's Sh4.9 billion, as the country continues to maintain its membership in a range of global and regional bodies.

The African Union (AU) and the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat received the largest shares of the payout.

The African Union Commission (AUC), where Kenya has nominated former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to be the next chairperson, received Sh1.22 billion in subscription fees.  Meanwhile, the EAC secretariat received Sh1.26 billion.

The report titled “Progress Made in Fulfilling the International Obligations of the Republic of Kenya”, also reveals that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) received Sh539 million, and the Global Fund was allocated Sh289 million.

Other international bodies such as the United Nations General Fund, the International Fund for Agriculture, and the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund also benefitted from Kenya's contributions.

To fund these payments, the government allocated Sh834 million to the Principal Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, responsible for managing international subscriptions through Kenyan missions abroad.

Other significant allocations included Sh224.7 million to the Northern Corridor Transport Network, Sh240 million to the UN General Fund, and Sh130.8 million to the International Fund for Agriculture.

All payments are centralised through the National Treasury, with ministries submitting invoices for international obligations.

"Kenya is a member of several international and regional inter-governmental organisations established through constitutive treaties. These organisations foster cooperation, friendly and peaceful relations, social, economic, and political integration among its member states," the report reads.

However, the increase in payments comes amid challenges posed by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

In the Financial Year 2022-2023, Kenya spent an additional Sh1.9 billion due to the depreciation of the Kenyan shilling against major global currencies.

As a result, payments to international organisations, including the AU, rose by Sh1.886 billion in the FY 2023-2024.

The report also highlights issues raised by the Auditor-General, Nancy Gathungu regarding the management of funds allocated for international subscriptions.

Gathungu recently expressed concerns about the risk of double payments to international bodies, as some of the earlier laws guiding the fund had not been repealed to align with current legislation.

She recommended the government address this issue to avoid the possibility of duplicate payments.