Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Kamau Thugge has revealed that International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff were expected to visit the country in January 2026.
Speaking at a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press briefing on December 10, Kamau Thugge said the visit will continue discussions with Kenyan authorities over a new support programme.
“We continue to have discussions with the IMF on getting a new funded programme. We do expect a staff visit from the IMF sometime in January, to continue the discussions,” Governor Kamau Thugge said.
The recent visit by the IMF staff concluded on October 9, 2025.
The purpose of the visit was to assess Kenya’s current economic situation and initiate discussions on the government’s forward-looking policies and strategies that could be supported through an IMF program.
During the mission, the IMF team held meetings with President Ruto, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Kamau Thugge, and their respective teams.
The IMF said its team had made progress in reviewing Kenya’s recent macroeconomic and financial sector developments and in assessing the economic outlook.
CBK Governor Issues Update on Loan Talks with IMF
He further noted that President William Ruto had met with IMF representatives in his recent trip to the United States.
On December 5, Ruto said that he held productive discussions with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Washington, D.C.
He added that the two had agreed to forge a forward-looking partnership, built on transparency, mutual understanding, and a shared commitment to sound economic governance.
“In Washington, D.C., held productive discussions with IMF Managing Director @KGeorgieva on broadening avenues of collaboration to bolster our reform agenda and sustain our economic momentum,” read part of the statement.
Also Read: IMF Hints at New Loan for Kenya as Nairobi Staff Visit Ends
Ruto acknowledged the IMF’s support and pledged to deepen collaboration to pursue economic growth, stability, and shared prosperity.
This comes after Kenya’s $3.6 billion (Ksh465 billion) program with the IMF expired in March this year.
The premature termination of the previous IMF program resulted in the forfeiture of an undisbursed tranche worth approximately Ksh110 billion ($850 million).
Also Read: IMF Warns Kenya of Currency Risks After Swapping Dollar Loan for Yuan
CS Mbadi Explains Why IMF is Delaying a New Loan for Kenya
CS Mbadi revealed that the delay in approving a new loan for Kenya by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is due to a disagreement over how the country’s new borrowing model should be classified.
He said the IMF has held up approval of Kenya’s next funding program because it wants the government’s new revenue securitization plan recognized as public debt.
On the other hand, Thugge stated that the government prefers a funded program to support economic stability and ongoing reforms.
“We expect an IMF mission to start negotiations on a new programme. We expect that when the programme is presented to the board, it will be discussed alongside the Article IV consultation discussions,” Thugge said.
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President William Ruto (right) and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva shake hands in a past meeting. PHOTO/PCS
