The ever combative KOT, the Kenyans on Twitter, were at it this week with a vibrant petition against Kenya being lent money by the International Monetary Fund. The hashtag #StopGivingKenyaLoans trended for a few days until it was overthrown by several hashtags supporting the borrowing, including the innuendo loaded #ThiefOfTheLoans and #ImpactOfTheLoans. Unknown to most petitioners, by the time the petition was being launched, the IMF Board had already approved Kenya’s loan on 2nd April 2021.
While no one really expected the IMF to adjust its programme with Kenya by virtue of an online petition, the issue did however force a public discussion on Kenya’s debt. That Kenya’s debt has risen astronomically since the current Jubilee administration took over is no secret.