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Sunday, 9 August 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 9 August 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 lender providing reconstruction funds and debt facility credits; has released funds for Venezuela earthquake recovery and unlocked credit for Kenya.

2026-04-242026-08-09

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026
  2. Citizen Digital

    Some observers suggest he could seek a post heading an intergovernmental body such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or European Commission.

    France's President Macron leaves future open as political curtain nears

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

Saturday 27 June

  1. IMF and Ruto at odds over corruption findings

    The Standard reports tensions between President William Ruto and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva over a confidential graft report, with billions of shillings reportedly caught in the dispute between the two parties.

    27 June 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 25 June

  1. High Court clears public debt case for full hearing

    A High Court has rejected attempts by the Attorney General and other respondents to dismiss Senator Okiya Omtatah's public debt petition, allowing it to proceed to a full hearing on its merits. The court upheld the International Monetary Fund's claim of diplomatic immunity and struck it out of the petition.

    25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. IMF criticises CBK's flawed inflation forecasting model

    The International Monetary Fund has accused the Central Bank of Kenya of relying on a "flawed" economic forecasting model that has systematically misdiagnosed the drivers of inflation, undermining efforts to curb rising living costs.

    25 June 2026 · The Standard

  3. High Court strikes IMF from Kenya debt case, grants immunity

    Kenya's High Court has removed the International Monetary Fund from a petition challenging the legality of Kenya's Sh7 trillion public debt, ruling that the IMF is protected by international treaties and Kenyan law from legal proceedings in Kenyan courts.

    25 June 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 21 June

  1. Suspected jihadists kill 11 farmers in two attacks in northeastern Nigeria

    Anti-jihadist militia fighters told AFP that suspected jihadists killed 11 farmers in two separate attacks in northeastern Nigeria this weekend. Communities in northern and central Nigeria face attacks from jihadist groups and criminal gangs known as "bandits," who kidnap for ransom, rustle cattle, and impose taxes on farmers seeking field access.

    21 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 17 June

  1. President Ruto advocates for new global financial order at G7

    President William Ruto represented Kenya at the G7 Summit in Évian, France (15–17 June 2026), positioning Kenya as an agenda-shaping partner. He argued for a shift away from aid dependency toward mutually beneficial partnerships and investment-driven development, and stated that Africa can no longer be viewed through a deficit lens in global decision-making.

    17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Ruto calls for African inclusion in global financial institutions

    President William Ruto has called for Africa's inclusion in reforming international financial and governance institutions, including the UN Security Council, IMF, and World Bank, arguing these institutions need to be democratised for the benefit of all nations. He made the remarks during a media interview in Evian, France, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard

  3. Kenya to benefit from G7-backed global financial reforms, Ruto says

    President Ruto participated in the G7 Summit in France as an agenda-shaping partner and stated that Kenya will benefit from G7-backed financial reforms including guarantees, risk-sharing instruments, and improved debt restructuring frameworks aimed at lowering capital costs for developing countries. Ruto positioned Africa as a partner in global growth and raised concerns over "capital injustice" and outdated perceptions affecting African borrowing costs.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Ruto calls for African inclusion in UN, IMF, World Bank reform

    President William Ruto has called for Africa's inclusion in efforts to reform international financial and governance institutions including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, stating that these institutions need to be democratised for equal treatment of all nations.

    16 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. IMF chief warns energy recovery after US-Iran ceasefire

    The International Monetary Fund chief welcomed a US-Iran ceasefire agreement but cautioned that energy supply disruptions and infrastructure damage mean recovery will take time. The IMF will release updated growth and inflation projections on July 8.

    16 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Maraga accuses political elites of stealing through borrowing

    Former Chief Justice David Maraga has claimed that political leadership uses public borrowing to drain resources, noting that the country's debt has risen from Sh1.77 trillion in 2013 to nearly Sh13 trillion. He said the debt, which he described as mostly "odious debt," has crowded out private businesses from credit markets.

    16 June 2026 · The Standard

Monday 15 June

  1. Treasury CS Mbadi presents 2026-27 budget to Parliament

    Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi delivered the 2026-27 budget speech at Parliament, addressing cost of living, employment, and growth, while highlighting achievements in economic growth, agriculture, health, and housing. The opinion piece critiques the budget's presentation and notes missing indicators such as productivity.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 14 June

  1. IMF discusses Mozambique's request for fund-backed programme

    The International Monetary Fund concluded a week-long mission to Mozambique and discussed the country's request for a fund-supported arrangement. Mozambique faces a challenging economic situation with subdued growth recovery from a 2025 contraction, and the IMF reclassified the country's debt as unsustainable in February.

    14 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 13 June

  1. Ruto's 2022 debt promise contradicted by record local borrowing plan

    President William Ruto, who promised in 2022 that the government should not borrow to finance recurrent expenditure and pledged a 10 per cent borrowing limit, now faces a 2026-27 budget with a record Sh1.03 trillion in planned local borrowing from commercial banks, pension funds, and insurance companies to cover a Sh1.146 trillion deficit.

    13 June 2026 · The Standard

Friday 12 June

  1. Nigeria kills over 13,000 terrorists in past year, Tinubu says

    President Bola Tinubu said Nigeria has killed more than 13,000 "terrorists" in the past year, claiming the death toll from the country's jihadist insurgency is down 81 percent since he took power in 2023. He also reported that over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor.

    12 June 2026 · The Standard

  2. Mideast conflict nearing 100 days, disrupts global economy

    The Middle East conflict that broke out in late February has disrupted energy supplies and triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history, with global oil supply losses reaching 12.8 million barrels per day. International institutions including the OECD have lowered global growth forecasts, citing the prolonged conflict as a major source of uncertainty affecting inflation, financial markets and supply chains.

    12 June 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 11 June

  1. Treasury presents budget with Sh1.1 trillion deficit amid frozen loans

    The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary will present a pre-election budget with a Sh1.1 trillion deficit as both the IMF and World Bank have held back funding, forcing the government to rely on domestic borrowing or new taxes. The World Bank has yet to disburse a Sh96.9 billion loan under its Development Policy Operation, with negotiations still ongoing.

    11 June 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 10 June

  1. IMF pressure shaped Ruto's Finance Bill 2026 tax proposals

    The National Treasury's Finance Bill 2026 reflects nearly two years of pressure from the International Monetary Fund to close Kenya's fiscal gap through new taxes, spending cuts, and fiscal consolidation.

    10 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 9 June

  1. MPs raise alarm over surge in missing children cases

    Members of Parliament have raised concerns over rising numbers of children reported missing, with reports from government and protection agencies indicating hundreds disappear in unclear circumstances linked to trafficking, abduction, and exploitation. A Kisii County MP called for urgent intervention and a statement from the National Assembly committee on the effectiveness of child protection mechanisms and speed of response in tracing missing minors.

    9 June 2026 · The Standard

International Monetary Fund — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute