The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to send a mission to Nairobi in early December 2026 for consultations, months before the next General Election scheduled for August 2027.
In a statement on October 12, the National Treasury confirmed the expected visit following bilateral talks between Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Eric Meyer, the US Treasury Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa and the Middle East.
“On the IMF programme, the discussions covered the forthcoming Article IV consultations, with an IMF mission expected in Nairobi early December 2026. The two sides also reviewed progress towards publication of the Governance Diagnostic Report, an important component of ongoing engagement on governance and public sector accountability,” read part of the statement.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, where the two officials reviewed Kenya’s macroeconomic outlook and the status of its engagement with the Fund.
CS Mbadi Shares Details of Upcoming IMF Mission
The upcoming consultations will give the International Monetary Fund an opportunity to engage with Kenyan authorities on the country’s economic and policy environment.
The talks also covered development financing and health cooperation, with both sides exploring opportunities to expand collaboration through US development financing frameworks and advance shared health priorities.
Kenya has been working towards a new agreement with the IMF after discontinuing the ninth review of its previous $3.6 billion lending programme, which combined the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
The discussions also touched on the status of the IMF’s Governance Diagnostic Report for Kenya, which examines governance and public sector accountability.
Also Read: Kenya Faces Higher Prices of Essential Commodities as IMF Sounds Warning
Beyond the IMF programme, Mbadi and Meyer discussed remittance flows from the United States and opportunities to strengthen technical cooperation, including US Treasury assistance in the emerging field of digital assets.
The officials further exchanged views on the Business Laws (Amendment) Act and its implications for development financing and partnerships.
The engagement forms part of Kenya’s continued economic diplomacy as the government seeks to strengthen international cooperation on economic policy, governance and development financing.
Also Read: Is Kenya’s New Government Investment Fund Built to IMF Standards?
Why IMF Visits Countries
The Fund visits member countries to monitor their economic performance, assess financial stability, review financial assistance programmes and provide policy advice or technical support.
Through Article IV consultations, generally conducted annually, IMF teams assess a country’s macroeconomic outlook, financial risks, exchange rate policies, and broader economic conditions. The teams engage government officials, central banks and other stakeholders.
The Fund also sends missions to negotiate or review financial assistance programmes, particularly when countries face balance-of-payments challenges, mounting debt or other economic pressures. Such programmes may involve policy and fiscal reforms intended to restore economic stability.
Additionally, the fund provides technical assistance to help countries strengthen economic institutions, improve tax collection, modernise central banking systems and enhance financial regulation.
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