Government hits out at Controller Of Budget over her report on loan given to Kenya
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National Treasury terms the report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o on the loan interest rate as “sensational and misleading,”
National Treasury terms the report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o on the loan interest rate as “sensational and misleading,”
The National Treasury has dismissed reports by the Controller of Budget that the government acquires loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank at 14.5 percent interest rates.
In a statement released on Friday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u called Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o’s claims “sensational and misleading,” alleging they are intended to damage the government’s reputation in the public view.
On Thursday, CS Ndung’u refuted Nyakang’o’s figures as reported by the media, stating that interest rates for the loans offered by the World Bank and IMF are not even close to half the claimed percentage.
“The Controller’s assertions, suggesting exorbitant interest rates of 14.5 percent, are not only sensational but also inaccurate. Such misleading statements risk causing confusion among Kenyans and straining our relationships with valuable development partners and foreign investors,” the CS said.
“Contrary to the Controller’s remarks, Kenya does not hold any loans from the IMF or World Bank with interest rates as high as 14.5 percent.
A cursory examination of both multilaterals’ official websites reveals that their lending products range from 0 percent to a maximum of approximately 6.74 percent [SOFR + 1.44J.”
The Cabinet Secretary went on to inform the public that Kenya owes the IMF a loan of US$2.68 billion (approx. Ksh.391 billion), and the World Bank US$11.3 billion (approx. Ksh.1.6 trillion), all of whose interest rates are below 7 percent.
“Presently, Kenya’s outstanding debt to the IMF amounts to US$2.68 billion, attracting interest rates ranging from 0 to 6.07 percent per annum,” he noted.
“Similarly, debt owed to the World Bank under the concessional IDA Window totals US$11.3 billion, with interest rates varying between 0.35 and 1.39 percent per annum. Additionally, debts under the non-concessional IBRD window stand at US$1.0 billion, with interest rates ranging from 2.19 to 6.74 percent per annum.”
While urging Nyakang’o to desist from giving misleading information to the public, the CS underscored that the Office of the Auditor undertakes thorough scrutiny of the loans before and after approval, adding that the process also involves Parliament.
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“It’s important to note that the Controller of Budget has access to all loan contracts and underlying documentation maintained in the Public Debt Management Office. These documents, along with payment details, loan registers, and statements, undergo annual audits by the Office of the Auditor General,” stated CS Ndung’u.
“Moreover, the utilization of loan proceeds and other public funds is subject to rigorous scrutiny by the Office of the Auditor General, with reports submitted annually to Parliament. We urge the Controller of Budget to disseminate factual information to the public to uphold the integrity of the Constitutional Office.”
On Thursday, while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Public Debt and Privatisation on the medium-term debt management strategy, Nyakang’o revealed that the loans by the two international bodies might be expensive for the country, though she did not provide any data.
“They baptize their interest…the bulk of which they call service charge, which nobody has ever fathomed,” she said, as quoted by the Nation newspaper.
“Our analysis has revealed that the average interest paid on concessional loans has averaged 14.5 percent for many years, which is not cheap by any standards.”
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