Ruto government's Sh3.5bn-a-day borrowing spree

President William Ruto’s austerity promises may have been music to the ears of Kenyans, but the latest National Treasury data shows that Kenya borrowed Sh416.2 billion within the first four months of this year.

The seven new foreign loans between January 1, 2026, and April 30, 2026, translate to Sh104.04 billion per month, Sh3.47 billion per day, and Sh144.5 million per hour, further deepening the country’s public debt crisis.

According to official data, the total public debt has hit Sh13 trillion, putting pressure on repayment amid depressed revenue collection and reduced donor support.

As of March 31, 2026, the public debt stock stood at Sh12.82 trillion, comprising Sh5.68 trillion owed to external lenders (44 per cent) and Sh7.14 trillion due to domestic lenders (56 per cent), according to the latest report by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o.