IMF Stories

Experts warn developing nations’ debt burden denies millions essential services
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Oct 14, 2025

The appeal comes as many developing nations struggle with high interest rates, currency depreciation, and worsening climate shocks — factors that have...

Jobs created in Africa mostly low-quality, informal - World Bank
Alfred Onyango  |  Oct 11, 2025

In its latest edition of Africa’s Pulse report, the lender reckoned that wage jobs and productive employment are scant in the region, as medium-sized...

Kenya seeks World Bank, EU support to remove toxic asbestos roofs
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 11, 2025

Asbestos, once a popular building material in the 1970s for its heat and sound resistance, was banned in Kenya in 2006 after it was linked to severe i...

Global economic outlook dims as IMF warns of prolonged uncertainty
Alfred Onyango  |  Oct 10, 2025

While the IMF’s most recent forecast in July projected global GDP growth at 3.0 per cent for 2025, down from 3.3 per cent in 2024, new projections exp...

Kenya confident of new IMF funding deal amid improved economic outlook
Alfred Onyango  |  Oct 08, 2025

The final details of the new IMF-funded program are expected to be announced following the conclusion of the talks on Thursday. The recently concluded...

Kenya spends Sh7 of every Sh10 collected on debt repayment - report
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 08, 2025

Unlike external loans that face strict lender scrutiny, domestic borrowing remains largely unchecked, making it more prone to misuse.

Kenya secures Sh193 billion loan to cut borrowing costs, boost stability
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 03, 2025

According to the Treasury, clearing the earlier debt avoids higher interest costs in the future and spreads repayments over a longer period, providing...

IMF says elections, climate shocks threaten Tanzania’s economic gains
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 26, 2025

The Fund observed that the country’s output expanded by 5.4 per cent in the first three months of 2025, but warned that deeper reforms are needed to p...

Inequality, fragile trust threatening global progress on social justice - ILO
Alfred Onyango  |  Sep 25, 2025

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), while the world is wealthier, healthier and better educated than in 1995, the benefits have...

When the IMF comes to town: Why they visit and what to watch out for
The Conversation  |  Sep 24, 2025

The IMF provides the financing on an unsecured basis. It tries to ensure that it will be repaid by making the financing subject to policy conditions,...

IMF mission heads to Nairobi for talks on fresh loan negotiations as debt pressures mount
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Sep 24, 2025

In August, Thugge announced that Nairobi wants its next arrangement with the IMF to be a funded programme, which would provide direct financial resour...

Ethiopia’s debt ‘unsustainable,’ World Bank-IMF warn as country remains in debt distress
Addis Standard  |  Sep 20, 2025

The assessment highlights that Ethiopia’s repayment risks are aggravated by “bunching of debt service in the near to medium term” and by the sharp dec...

Kenya set to raise Sh370 billion with first-ever debt-for-food swap
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 11, 2025

The arrangement will allow Kenya to channel resources into agricultural projects, irrigation, food storage infrastructure, and nutrition programmes, h...

Sidi Ould Tah takes helm at AfDB, unveils 100-day reform plan
Alfred Onyango  |  Sep 03, 2025

Ould Tah becomes the ninth president of the regional lender that plays a vital role in financing development projects across the continent.

Nearly entire global population exposed to harmful environments - World Bank
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 02, 2025

The report highlights that in low-income countries the situation is even worse, with eight out of ten people lacking all three essentials: clean air,...

AfDB, AfCFTA and Africa50 sign MoU to unlock continent’s trade potential
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 30, 2025

The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to tackle the physical and digital infrastructure deficits that have long constrained trade and economi...

IMF revises global growth outlook to 3 per cent for 2025
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 31, 2025

The IMF highlights that several regions are registering moderate improvements in economic activity. Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is expected to grow b...

At least 22 dead in Angola amid protests over fuel price hike
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Jul 31, 2025

Reports indicate that over 200 people have been injured and more than 1,200 arrested during the demonstrations, which were marked by widespread vandal...

Ghana’s security strategy has kept terror attacks at bay: What other countries can learn from its approach
The Conversation  |  Jul 23, 2025

This resilience is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate counter-terrorism strategies employed by Ghana’s security institutions.

World Bank unveils Sh16.5 billion initiative to empower Kenya’s vulnerable groups
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 22, 2025

According to the World Bank, the funds will go through existing government systems, particularly the National Safety Net Program, to provide structure...

Treasury CS John Mbadi explains why State shunned subsidy as fuel prices hike
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 17, 2025

Fuel subsidies previously helped keep prices in check, preventing increases of up to Sh9 per litre for diesel, Sh7 for petrol, and Sh8 for kerosene. B...

World Bank assures Kenya’s debt sustainable if properly managed
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Jul 16, 2025

World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Qimiao Fan, emphasised that the sustainability of Kenya’s debt should not be judged only by the current numbers...

IMF releases $10 million to support Somalia’s ongoing economic reforms
Abdirahman Khalif  |  Jul 10, 2025

The funding is aimed at helping Somalia maintain macroeconomic stability and build stronger institutions in line with its National Transformation Plan...

World Bank urges Somalia to strengthen revenue efforts to support economic stability
Mary Wambui  |  Jun 30, 2025

Somalia's domestic revenue, which comes second as the country's source of resources, has over the years remained low, with the World Bank now urging r...

Foreign direct investment inflows to developing nations fall to 18-year low, threatening job growth - report
Alfred Onyango  |  Jun 18, 2025

FDI inflows to emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) have weakened steadily as a share of their GDP since the global financial crisis

Bleak outlook as CBK reveals one in three firms won’t hire in 2025
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jun 18, 2025

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that 782,300 new jobs were created in 2024, a drop from 848,100 the year before.

US arrests Rwandan genocide fugitive Vincent Nzigiyimfura after years on the run
The New Times  |  Jun 15, 2025

If convicted, Nzigiyimfura faces up to 30 years in prison, with sentencing to be determined by a federal judge in accordance with U.S. Sentencing Guid...

Dreams on hold: Grim global jobs outlook paints bleak future for millions of job seekers
Alfred Onyango  |  Jun 15, 2025

In Africa, the International Labour Organisation has downgraded the employment growth prospect from the earlier 1.8 per cent to 1.6 per cent.

IEA: IMF programme failed to fix Kenya’s economy, focused on debt repayment instead
Alfred Onyango  |  May 21, 2025

The unresolved issues, according to the IEA, contributed to public discontent that culminated in widespread protests and an eventual premature end to...

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