The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will send officials to Kenya in January to restart loan negotiations, a critical test for President William Ruto's administration amidst economic pressures and public unrest. These talks follow stalled discussions in late 2025 and are crucial for stabilizing Kenya's public finances.

• The Kenyan government recently unveiled a Sh4.73 trillion draft budget for 2026-27, a near 10 percent increase.
• The IMF consistently advises Nairobi to expand its tax base and control spending to ensure debt sustainability.
• Previous attempts to implement IMF-backed revenue measures, including tax hikes in the 2024 Finance Bill, sparked deadly protests.