public debt Stories

Kenya’s loan spree: Government borrowed Sh23.83 million per hour in four months
Lucy Mumbi  |  Feb 17, 2025

The document reveals that the government secured 18 new loans from both bilateral and commercial creditors during the four months.

Controller of Budget sounds alarm as Kenya's debt hits 67% of GDP
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Dec 25, 2024

The current public debt currently stands at 67 per cent of GDP, amounting to Sh10.79 trillion as of September 30, 2024, a sharp increase from Sh10.58...

World Bank places Kenya among nations with highest debt burdens
Lucy Mumbi  |  Dec 18, 2024

Kenya’s debt service costs on external debt more than doubled in 2023, rising from Sh403 billion to Sh839 billion. This sharp increase was attributed...

IMF cautions Kenya’s financial stability amid plans for Sh194 billion UAE loan
Lucy Mumbi  |  Nov 28, 2024

The warning follows the IMF's approval in October of a Sh78 billion loan to Kenya. The decision was part of a review process disrupted earlier this ye...

National Treasury faces scrutiny over Sh161 billion debt repayment anomalies
Lucy Mumbi  |  Nov 28, 2024

Gathungu pointed out that her office was unable to obtain all the necessary documents to link the borrowed funds to specific projects.

Kenya's public debt management system vulnerable to data breaches — Audit
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Nov 19, 2024

The audit identified several IT control issues, including discrepancies between the closing balances reported in the Annual Debt Management Report and...

Treasury to cover costs of state-owned firms’ Sh266 billion loan defaults
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Nov 14, 2024

The mounting defaults are raising concerns about the sustainability of Kenya's public debt, which now stands at Sh10.6 trillion.

Experts say forensic audit best way to unravel Kenya’s debt mystery
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 11, 2024

Previous regular debt audits by the Auditor General’s office have borne no fruit, causing a depressed tax policy at the taxpayer's expense.

Opinion: Scrutinising Kenya’s debt key in charting sustainable fiscal path
Mohammed Doyo  |  Jul 27, 2024

Kenya's public debt has ballooned from Sh2 trillion to over Sh10 trillion in a decade, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio to a precarious 70 per cent.

High Court extends suspension of Ruto’s public debt task force
Bashir Mohammed  |  Jul 23, 2024

According to the petitioners, the President's action undermines the constitutional role of the Auditor General, which could erode public trust and pot...

Why economists think IMF's Kenya support plan is off target
Alfred Onyango  |  Jul 21, 2024

Push for increased revenue mobilisation has taken a hit on Kenya, resulting in the anti-tax protests.

Engineers body criticised for congratulating its President on appointment to public debt taskforce
Mary Wambui  |  Jul 06, 2024

The taskforce was gazetted on Friday a few minutes after President William Ruto announced new austerity measures following widespread rage over the wa...

LSK president declines Ruto appointment to task force auditing public debt
Barack Oduor  |  Jul 06, 2024

The lawyer's lobby declined the appointment noting that auditing public debt is a role designated by the constitution to the office of Auditor General...

Isiolo residents react to Ruto’s latest austerity measures
Waweru Wairimu  |  Jul 05, 2024

"Despite all this, as a nation, we are finally having the right conversation, not about our tribes, personalities, or political formations, but rather...

LSK's Faith Odhiambo among 7 appointed to audit public debt
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 05, 2024

After 90 days, the task force will have served its purpose and report directly to the President.

Kenya's fiscal deficit to rise by 21% to Sh920 billion this year - report
Alfred Onyango  |  Jun 06, 2024

To address this, the Committee says financing of the gap will predominantly shift towards foreign borrowing.

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