President William Ruto spoke over the phone with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva after the controversial Finance Bill 2024 was withdrawn.
Sources speaking to Reuters confirmed details discussed between the two leaders as part of a lending programme that could see Kenya receive a loan worth 3.6 million USD.
IMF has found itself in the receiving end of Kenyans who accused them of being the tax hikes in the country.
- Cabinet informed about Finance Bill 2024 protest hijacked by criminals
- President Ruto directs Treasury to review salaries of state officers
Even though the details of the meeting are scanty, President William Ruto and Kristalina Georgieva agreed to have flexibility on some of its programmes that would be affected following the withdrawal of the bill.
President William Ruto’s government was tasked with showing commitment on wastefull spending, crack the whip on corruption and increase accountability as a gesture on the flexibility it seeks.
According to experts, the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 will mean the government missing out on key programme targets even though it does not need the funding at the moment.
Even after the bill’s withdrawal and protests witnessed across the country, IMF stood with Kenya promising constructive dialogue.
“We remain deeply concerned by the recent tragic events in Kenya and maintain close ongoing and constructive dialogue with the Kenyan authorities,” said an IMF spokesperson
