Kenya Minute.
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

International Monetary Fund

Also known as: IMF · the Fund · National Assistance Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons

International Monetary Fund — multilateral organization providing loan programmes and economic guidance to countries including Kenya, Senegal, and Zambia.

2026-04-242026-09-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. The Standard

    gy company Uniper, said the strait's closure and damage to facilities took most of the gas supply growth between 2025 and 2026 off the market, warning that the pain from the supply shortfall could last at least until 2030.INFLATION PRESSURES RETURN The International Monetary Fund

    Mideast conflict reaches 100th day, casting shadow over global economy
  3. The Standard

    The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi will present a pre-election budget today with a gaping Sh1.1 trillion deficit at a time when both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have held back funding, forcing President William Ruto’s government to rely al

    Treasury faces budget squeeze as IMF, World Bank freeze loans
  4. The Standard

    When the National Treasury unveiled the Finance Bill 2026 last month, critics pointed to a familiar influence behind some of its most contentious proposals — the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    How IMF pressure shaped Ruto's tax hikes
  5. The Standard

    Separately, the Special Funds Accounts Committee (SFAC), led by its Vice Chairperson, Rahim Dawood examined the Auditor-General’s Report on the Financial Statements of the National Assistance Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons.Department for Children Services Princi

    MPs demand urgent action over surge in missing children cases
  6. Citizen Digital

    onko's announcement came one hour before his successor as prime minister, seasoned economist ​Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, unveiled the new 30-member government, retaining Cheikh Diba in the critical post of finance minister as negotiations ​continue with the International Monetary Fund

    Senegal's Sonko pulls his party from new government, raising risk to IMF deal
  7. Citizen Digital

    Despite the challenges, the International Monetary Fund expects the economy in Africa's second most populous country to grow by more than nine percent this year -- one of the fastest rates in the world -- largely thanks to infrastructure and industrial investments under previous

    Ethiopia votes with landslide re-election expected for PM
  8. The Standard

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also estimated that nearly half of more than 1,000 government-implemented projects stalled, with close to Sh1 trillion required to complete them.

    How weak project execution threatens Kenya's Sh4.8 trillion budget
  9. May 2026
  10. Citizen Digital

    By Vocalize Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye ​on Friday dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, a move that risks deepening uncertainty in a ‌country already grappling with a debt crisis and drawn-out talks with the International Monetary Fund

    Senegal president sacks Prime Minister Sonko, dissolves gov't after months of friction
  11. The Standard

    With debt levels that have reached the equivalent of 132 percent of its GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Senegal is now the second-most indebted country in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Senegal's president sacks PM after months of tensions
  12. Citizen Digital

    The new measures come days after the International Monetary Fund said any energy subsidies should be targeted and ⁠temporary, and ​urged the government to consider broadening the ​base of value-added tax and reforming property tax over the longer term.

    UK extends fuel duty cut to ease Iran war inflation squeeze
World & Region

Madagascar marks year since military coup, protests stall

The News

A year after a military coup toppled President Andry Rajoelina in October 2025, Madagascar's Col. Michael Randrianirina leads the transitional government with a promise of elections within two years. Young activists say chronic water and electricity cuts — the original demands that sparked the Gen Z-led protests — remain unresolved.

22 September 2026 · The Standard

Yesterday

  1. Madagascar marks year since military coup, protests stall

    A year after a military coup toppled President Andry Rajoelina in October 2025, Madagascar's Col. Michael Randrianirina leads the transitional government with a promise of elections within two years. Young activists say chronic water and electricity cuts — the original demands that sparked the Gen Z-led protests — remain unresolved.

    22 September 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 17 September

  1. Kenya loses 2–2.4% annual GDP to climate disasters

    Kenya loses an estimated 2 to 2.4 per cent of GDP annually to climate-related disasters including droughts and floods. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula called for increased international climate finance and technical assistance for developing countries.

    17 September 2026 · Capital News

Monday 14 September

  1. Kenya's public debt exceeds Sh13 trillion, above legal ceiling

    Kenya's public debt reached Sh13.120.87 trillion as of end-June, representing 68.5 per cent of GDP and exceeding the 55 per cent legal ceiling, while President Ruto claims his administration has slowed borrowing and stabilised the economy, a claim contradicted by Treasury data and warnings from fiscal watchdogs and the International Monetary Fund about rising refinancing pressures.

    14 September 2026 · The Standard

  2. Kenya's public debt reaches Sh13 trillion, exceeds legal limit

    Kenya's public debt crossed Sh13 trillion in June, reaching 68.5 per cent of GDP, well above the 55 per cent legal ceiling, according to Treasury data. The country's fiscal watchdog and the International Monetary Fund warn that rising refinancing needs are squeezing public finances, despite President Ruto's assertions that his administration has slowed borrowing and stabilised the economy.

    14 September 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 12 September

  1. Opinion: Agricultural trade can drive Africa's development

    An opinion piece argues that Africa must prioritize agriculture and trade to escape poverty and overcome aid dependency, citing former AfDB president Donald Kaberuka's view that the continent should "farm and trade" its way out of poverty rather than rely on external assistance.

    12 September 2026 · The Standard

Friday 11 September

  1. IMF denies dropping candidate over Trump tariff criticism

    The IMF rejected a Financial Times report claiming it had dropped London School of Economics professor Ricardo Reis as lead economist candidate because of his earlier criticism of President Trump's tariffs. The IMF instead appointed fellow LSE professor Silvana Tenreyro to the role.

    11 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 10 September

  1. Oxfam: IMF increased austerity demands on borrowing nations

    Oxfam says the IMF pushed for larger austerity cuts in borrowing countries over the past decade, with median annual austerity cuts rising from 0.21 percent of GDP between 2012 and 2017 to 0.85 percent between 2018 and 2025. The charity warned that such cuts undermine spending on public services including health care, education, and housing.

    10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 9 September

  1. Kenya's economic recovery requires fiscal continuity, not political change

    An opinion piece argues that Kenya's debt service burden—roughly three times the World Bank and IMF's prudent upper range of 15–20 per cent of government revenue—demands fiscal continuity rather than political experimentation.

    9 September 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 8 September

  1. Ruto's foreign hawker ban tests Pan-African commitment

    President Ruto's directive restricting foreign nationals from low-capital businesses has sparked debate over whether Kenya's Pan-African agenda—which emphasizes open borders and freer movement of people—is being undermined by domestic protectionism.

    8 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 2 September

  1. IMF agrees $2.2 billion loan programme with Senegal

    The International Monetary Fund has reached an agreement with Senegal on a new $2.2 billion debt programme to support the country's economic and financial reform programme for 2026–2029, following suspension of a prior deal due to discovery of previously unreported debt. The 36-month arrangement requires corrective measures to address data misreporting and still needs approval from the IMF's executive board.

    2 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Nigeria plans to decriminalise attempted suicide

    Nigeria's government says it will send a bill to the National Assembly to decriminalise attempted suicide, which is currently penalised under colonial-era laws. The health minister cited about 300,000 annual suicide attempts and at least 7,000 deaths, noting that criminalisation deters people in crisis from seeking care.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

Friday 28 August

  1. PS Singoei calls for Africa's borrowing costs to be reduced

    Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Singoei told delegates at the sixth African Conference on Debt and Development in Nairobi that Africa pays an extra $75 billion annually in inflated risk premiums despite defaulting on debt less than commonly perceived, and called for the continent's borrowing premium to be cut by 200 basis points over the next three to four years.

    28 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 22 August

  1. World Bank projects Lebanon economy to contract 6.4%

    The World Bank projects Lebanon's economy will contract by 6.4 percent in 2026 due to the Israel-Hezbollah war, citing collapse in tourism, weaker consumption, disrupted supply chains, and displacement. Inflation is expected to rise to 17.5 percent this year.

    22 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Tanga energy hub deal strengthens East Africa's fuel security

    An agreement signed in Dar es Salaam between Tanzania and Uganda to develop a regional energy hub at the Port of Tanga could draw more than $20 billion in refining, storage, logistics and petrochemical investment, offering a strategic response to global energy supply vulnerabilities exposed by the February US-Iran conflict.

    22 August 2026 · The Standard

Friday 14 August

  1. Kenya resumes IMF talks after abandoning previous programme

    Kenya is entering fresh International Monetary Fund discussions after President William Ruto's government abandoned a $3.6 billion IMF programme in March last year due to missed performance targets, losing roughly Sh110 billion in expected funding and plunging the country into a budget crisis.

    14 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. Zambia suspends election vote counting after violence reports

    Zambia's electoral commission suspended nationwide vote counting on Friday following reports of violence in some districts, including attacks on poll staff and theft of marked ballot papers. The election, held Thursday, saw incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema face challenger Brian Mundubile among 14 contenders in a vote focused on economic hardship.

    14 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 13 August

  1. Zambia votes as Hichilema's economic record faces test

    Zambians voted Thursday in an election where President Hakainde Hichilema seeks a second term as economic hardship tests his record. The 64-year-old is betting on job creation and infrastructure development, while facing challenger Brian Mundubile and 12 other candidates in the copper-rich nation.

    13 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Zambia holds election amid economic frustration and dissent concerns

    Zambians voted Thursday in an election centered on economic hardship in the copper-rich nation, where President Hakainde Hichilema seeks a second term. While inflation has fallen and the kwacha has strengthened, many face high food and energy costs and unemployment around 10 per cent, with concerns raised that the government has narrowed space for dissent.

    13 August 2026 · The Standard

  3. Zambia holds election on Hichilema's economic track record

    Zambians voted Thursday in an election focused on economic hardships in the copper-rich nation, with President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term after five years during which the economy returned to growth that critics say has not yet benefited ordinary households. The government faces charges of narrowing space for dissent, while the country has secured debt restructuring and completed an IMF-supported programme since defaulting on sovereign debt in 2020.

    13 August 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 5 August

  1. World Bank: AI could accelerate developing economies' growth decade

    The World Bank reports that artificial intelligence could enable developing countries to gain a century's worth of development in a decade if they address power, connectivity and skills gaps quickly. The report finds that developing economies face fewer job losses from AI than richer nations and have more to gain than to fear.

    5 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Kenya's debt hits Sh12.82 trillion, loan repayment consumes 71% of revenue

    Kenya's public debt has reached Sh12.82 trillion, with loan repayments consuming 71 per cent of government revenue and leaving just 29 per cent for salaries, public services and development projects, according to Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o. She warned Parliament that the mounting debt burden has severely constrained fiscal space and the country must continue borrowing to stay afloat.

    29 July 2026 · Capital News

Saturday 25 July

  1. EADB Kenya operations questioned over potential Sh6.6b loss

    Questions have emerged over the East African Development Bank's Kenya operations amid reports of potential loss of about Sh6.6 billion if no action is taken, with stakeholders noting no dividend payouts have been made in years. Stakeholders appearing before Parliament's Finance Committee raised constitutional, governance, and accountability concerns about the proposed East African Development Bank (Amendment) Bill.

    25 July 2026 · The Standard

Friday 24 July

  1. World Bank estimates Venezuela earthquakes caused $19.6 billion damage

    Twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 caused at least $19.6 billion in direct physical damage to buildings and infrastructure, according to World Bank estimates released Thursday. At least 5,398 people were killed, over 16,740 injured, with the UN reporting more than a million in need of immediate humanitarian aid.

    24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 23 July

  1. Venezuela earthquake death toll reaches 5,398 one month later

    The death toll from twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5) has reached 5,398, according to officials, with La Guaira state the hardest hit. The government tally of 16,740 injured remained unchanged, though national and international organizations estimate thousands more may still be unaccounted for.

    23 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 18 July

  1. Venezuela twin earthquakes kill 5,069, IMF releases reconstruction funds

    Twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on June 24, killing 5,069 people and injuring 16,740, with the worst damage in the coastal state of La Guaira. The country has drawn $346 million from the International Monetary Fund for reconstruction efforts.

    18 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 16 July

  1. Safaricom sale, World Bank funding to boost forex reserves

    Kenya's foreign exchange reserves are set to reach a seven-month high following proceeds from the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom totalling Sh244.5 billion, World Bank funding of $750 million, and Kenya Pipeline Company privatisation receipts of Sh103.45 billion received in April, with the CBK expecting the shilling to remain stable.

    16 July 2026 · The Standard

Friday 10 July

  1. Namibia secures China deals on energy, mining, infrastructure

    During a state visit to Beijing, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah secured commitments from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to step up cooperation in energy, farming, infrastructure, and minerals sectors. Nandi-Ndaitwah is seeking investment to implement election pledges to create jobs and diversify the Namibian economy.

    10 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 4 July

  1. World Bank unlocks $1.25 billion credit after debt disclosure stalemate

    Kenya's Treasury has unlocked a Sh161.8 billion (US$1.25 billion) credit facility from the World Bank after days of stalemate with the World Bank and IMF over public debt disclosures and governance concerns.

    4 July 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 2 July

  1. Kenya's debt burden undermines healthcare and public services, CSOs warn

    Civil society organisations have warned that Kenya's mounting public debt, which surpassed KSh13 trillion in May 2026 and stands at about 69.9 per cent of GDP, is undermining the country's healthcare system and diverting public resources from critical services. According to the coalition, nearly 70 cents of every shilling collected in government revenue is directed towards debt repayment, and debt servicing now consumes 9.2 times more resources than government spending on health.

    2 July 2026 · Capital News

Sunday 28 June

  1. Report: IMF austerity policies prioritize Kenya debt over public services

    A report analyzing IMF documents across 11 countries found that 73 per cent of IMF recommendations focused on fiscal consolidation including spending cuts, while Kenya devotes 29 per cent of government revenue to external debt servicing compared with 9 per cent to health and 18 per cent to education. The report argues IMF-backed hiring restrictions and wage limits could worsen shortages of teachers, nurses and other frontline workers.

    28 June 2026 · The Standard

International Monetary Fund — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute