An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team is set to arrive in Nairobi on Thursday, September 25, 2025, to begin talks with Kenyan authorities on a possible Fund-supported programme.

The mission, led by Haimanot Teferra, the IMF’s mission chief for Kenya, will be in the country from September 25 to October 9.

The IMF said the visit follows a request by the Kenyan government.

“At the request of the Kenyan authorities, an IMF staff team will begin initial discussions in the coming days on a possible Fund-supported programme,” Teferra said in a statement released in Washington ahead of the mission.

She added that the Fund’s focus remains on supporting Kenya’s economic reforms.

“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. We look forward to constructive engagement with the authorities and other stakeholders during our visit to Nairobi,” she said.

The discussions are expected to cover Kenya’s fiscal policies, debt management, and measures to strengthen the economy at a time when the country is grappling with high borrowing costs and rising living expenses.

For the government, an agreement could provide crucial policy backing and access to funding that would help ease pressure on public finances.

Ruto faults biased lending

However, the IMF mission comes against the backdrop of sharp criticism from President William Ruto. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the president accused the IMF and the World Bank of biased lending practices.

According to Ruto, the global context is now vastly different. He pointed out that the gold standard collapsed five decades ago and Europe has long been rebuilt, yet the governance of these institutions has not kept pace with the realities of a multipolar world, particularly the needs of poor and developing nations.

Ruto also highlighted the IMF’s recent allocation of Special Drawing Rights, which he argued exposed unfair practices.

“The mismatch between shareholders and stakeholders has become starkly visible. For instance, during the IMF’s recent allocation of Special Drawing Rights, 64 per cent went to wealthy nations with little need for liquidity support. They didn’t need the money anyway, but they got 64 per cent, while the poorer countries received just 2.4 per cent, which is a disconnect,” he stated.

The president warned that current systems punish poorer nations with high interest rates and strict loan conditions, while richer countries enjoy softer terms.

“Priorities and allocation mechanisms consistently favour those already prosperous, while trapping vulnerable economies in cycles of debt, high borrowing costs and inadequate access to emergency support and concessional funding,” he added.

The president emphasised that it is imperative to transform these institutions into genuinely independent, apolitical global bodies aligned with their original mandates.

The IMF team is expected to meet officials from the Treasury, the Central Bank of Kenya, and other stakeholders during the two-week mission. A statement outlining the outcomes of the talks will be issued once discussions are concluded.