The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that a staff mission led by Haimanot Teferra, Mission Chief for Kenya, is set to visit Nairobi from September 25 to October 9 to hold talks with the Kenyan government on a potential IMF-supported program.
In a statement seen by News Nine ahead of the visit, Ms. Teferra said the mission was organised at the request of Kenyan authorities and marks the beginning of initial discussions on a possible financing arrangement.
“At the request of the Kenyan authorities, an IMF staff team will begin initial discussions in the coming days on a possible Fund-supported program,” she said.
The IMF reaffirmed its commitment to working with Kenya to bolster economic stability and reform efforts.
“The IMF remains committed to supporting Kenya in its efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability, safeguard debt sustainability, strengthen governance and promote inclusive and sustainable growth for the benefit of the Kenyan people,” Ms. Teferra added.
She expressed optimism that the talks would be productive and would pave the way for stronger collaboration between the IMF, Kenyan authorities and other key stakeholders.
The visit comes at a critical time as Kenya seeks to stabilise its economy, address debt vulnerabilities and implement fiscal reforms to support long-term growth.
Kenya has been under a four-year IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement since 2021, which provided critical financial support during COVID-19 recovery and helped stabilise the country’s balance of payments.
However, the ninth review of the EFF/ECF, scheduled for March 2025, was not concluded after discussions with IMF staff, signalling the end of the existing program.
Kenyan authorities subsequently requested a fresh arrangement tailored to the country’s current fiscal and economic priorities.
In June 2025, the IMF completed a Governance Diagnostic Mission to Kenya, assessing vulnerabilities in public finance management, anti-corruption measures and institutional reforms.
A final report will be shared later this year, and its recommendations are expected to shape the policy priorities of the new IMF program.
Kenya continues to face debt sustainability pressures, with significant external repayments falling due in 2025–2026, including a $2 billion Eurobond maturing next year.
Rising domestic interest rates and revenue shortfalls have squeezed fiscal space, forcing the government to rely more on concessional financing.
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