Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has hosted a high-level meeting with representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to launch a new initiative aimed at evaluating corruption’s impact on Kenya’s economy.

In a statement on his X account on March 3, 2025, Mudavadi announced that the meeting marked the official start of the IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment Scoping Mission for Kenya.

This comprehensive study aims to identify vulnerabilities related to corruption within the country’s systems.

“Had a productive and insightful session this morning with Rebecca A. Sparkman, IMF’s Deputy Division Chief, at the launch of the IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment Scoping Mission for Kenya,” Mudavadi stated.

During the discussions, Mudavadi and the IMF team explored the mission’s primary objectives, focusing on how corruption affects Kenya’s macroeconomic performance and stability.

The assessment aims to provide data-driven insights that could inform future policy decisions and governance reforms.

“We explored the mission’s objectives to assess corruption vulnerabilities and their potential impact on Kenya’s macroeconomic performance,” Mudavadi stated.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary encouraged the IMF delegation to adopt an inclusive approach by engaging with stakeholders from various sectors of Kenyan society and government.

“I encouraged the IMF team to connect with key stakeholders across national and county governments, the Judiciary, Parliament, the private sector, civil society, and faith-based organizations for a comprehensive approach,” he said.

The meeting was attended by key government officials, including Albert Mwenda, the Director General for Budget, Fiscal and Economic Affairs at the National Treasury, and Selim Cakir, the IMF’s Resident Representative in Kenya.

Kenya’s invitation

On October 7, 2024, Mudavadi revealed that the government had formally requested a governance and corruption diagnostic from the IMF.

Speaking at the time, Mudavadi noted that he officially signed the request following consultations held with President William Ruto.

“We need to take the fight against corruption a notch higher and cast away the spirit of corruption. The war on corruption has taken a long time. We must ask ourselves where corruption is domiciled so that we can tackle it head-on,” Mudavadi said.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary explained that the assessment would encompass all government institutions as part of the government’s wider initiative to combat corruption.

“On our volution. We have requested a governance and corruption diagnostic, and I signed off on that request on behalf of the government of Kenya,” he insisted.