The Human Rights Watch on Tuesday mounted pressure on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revise Kenyan’s targets for debt repayment.
According to the organisation, the current IMF programme which is expected to run until 2026 pushed for steep spending cuts and increased revenues for the Kenyan government.
However, HRW has determined that the budget cuts create systems which promote inequality and a possible infringement of human rights.
“Research has also shown that these measures tend to worsen inequality, and “a large upfront fiscal consolidation can be particularly damaging,” according to the Independent Evaluation Office, an independent IMF entity.
Currently, the IMF has committed Kshs572 billion ( $4.4 billion) to Kenya, in support from 2024 to 2026.
According to the HRW, the endorsement of the IMF of the now-shelved Finance Bill 2024, the terms and conditions for the programme have led to the adoption of the government’s measures which should be revised.
“The IMF should revisit its targets to ensure that it is not impeding the Kenyan government from meeting its human rights obligations and ensure that any policies enacted to achieve program targets do not exacerbate poverty and inequality or undermine rights,” stated HRW.
HRW further raised concerns about the significant decrease in social spending in sectors such as education and health.
“To build trust, the IMF and Kenyan government should work together to conduct and publish human rights impact assessments of both the budget and finance bills and amend them to best fulfil their rights obligations,” Human Rights Watch stated.
This statement comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on June 27 pledged to continue working closely with Kenya following unrest stemming from Kenyans' discontentment with attempts to push through the Finance Bill 2024.
IMF further promised to engage the government to chart a course towards robust, sustainable, and inclusive growth
Additionally, the Bretton Woods institution expressed its concern and revealed it was closely monitoring the situation in the country.
