IMF to Send Kenya $407 Million, Cites Program Advance

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The International Monetary Fund will release $407 million in new funding for Kenya’s government, citing the nation’s dedication to economic overhauls.

The Kenyan authorities have shown strong commitment amid challenging circumstances and are acting to reduce debt vulnerabilities while maintaining support for the economic recovery, the IMF said in a statement after the executive board completed a review of its loan programs.

Kenya also is moving forward on its governance and structural-reform agenda, and recent publication of extensive audits of Covid-19 spending has enhanced transparency and accountability, the fund said.

“The authorities’ program sets the basis for a return to durable and inclusive growth and identifies a clear path to reduce debt vulnerabilities, while securing space for needed social and development spending,” IMF Deputy Managing Director Antoinette Sayeh said. “Looking ahead, the authorities should sustain their consolidation efforts by continuing to improve spending efficiency and undertaking further revenue administration and tax-policy measures.”

Yields on Kenya’s $1.2 billion 2032 securities dropped two basis points to 6.38% by 9:30 a.m. in Nairobi.

Read more: Kenya Lawmakers Balk as Debt Servicing Costs Jump to $11 Billion

Sayeh said it’s important for Kenya to maintain momentum on its structural reform agenda, including efforts to improve oversight and management of state-owned enterprises.

The Central Bank of Kenya’s monetary policy should remain accommodative as long as inflation and price expectations remain well-anchored within the target band, Sayeh said. Keeping a close supervision on credit risks and provisioning should be a priority, she said.

The government plans to narrow its budget deficit for the year starting July 1 to 7.5% of gross domestic product from an estimate of 8.6% in the current period. The forecast assumes the government will achieve an economic growth rate of 6.6% this year and increase tax revenue. East Africa’s largest economy expanded about 0.6% in 2020 as the pandemic curbed investment.

Given under-performance of the economy, the government might fail to meet its revenue target, the National Assembly’s budget committee said in a report on Wednesday. “As the government continues to experience significant expenditure pressures, it is likely to increase its borrowing leading to higher debt levels,” according to the report.

GDP Forecast

The IMF said that Kenya’s growth is now estimated to at 6.3% in 2021, compared with 7.6% in its April World Economic Outlook.

Under the 38-month IMF program, “the primary balance target for end-March was achieved by a comfortable margin, alongside all targets related to debt guarantees as well as the Central Bank of Kenya net international reserves,” Kenyan National Treasury Secretary Ukur Yatani said in a statement on Twitter on Wednesday that preceded the IMF’s announcement.

Yatani said that the government expected the successful review completion and disbursement given Kenya’s progress toward its goals.

Targets on tax revenue, social spending and outstanding exchequer requests “were generally met except by a marginal under-performance of 0.3% of GDP,” Yatani said. The government has strengthened public accountability, and completed a financial evaluation of 18 state-owned companies that they plan to reform and minimize the fiscal risks they pose, he said.

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