Kenya on stable debt path, MP says despite concerns from Nyakango

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Endebess Member of Parliament Robert Pukose has said Kenya remains on a sustainable debt path, dismissing warnings from the Office of the Controller of Budget that the country risks sliding into a debt trap.

Speaking on Spice FM on Wednesday, April 1, Pukose, who is also vice chair of the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, dismissed concerns raised by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o over the country’s borrowing.

Nyakang’o has warned that Kenya is on an unsustainable path, citing costly and poorly coordinated borrowing.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Public Debt and Privatisation on Monday, she said Kenya’s public debt had risen to Sh12.29 trillion as of December 2025, about 67.8 percent of gross domestic product, above the statutory ceiling of 55 per cent.

She also said the country faces about Sh3 trillion in external debt maturities within the next year.

“As it stands now, we are able to take care of our responsibility as a nation. When this government took office, we were in the process of defaulting and we were listed among five vulnerable countries,” said Pukose.

He disputed the scale of the figures cited, arguing that the estimates were overstated.

“I do not think that is factual. Sh3.3 trillion is close to the country’s entire budget. That sounds unrealistic,” he claimed.

Pukose added that much of Kenya’s debt, about Sh5.7 trillion in external borrowing and Sh7.1 trillion domestically had been negotiated and managed.

“Kenya borrowed for development and not recurrent expenditure, but some of that money has gone into servicing debts,” he said.

During the session, Nyakang’o also raised concerns about commitment fees, noting that some loans were secured before projects were ready for implementation. She called for the renegotiation of debt repayment terms.