
Letter from Africa: Kenyans protest over growing debt
Kenyans urge potential lenders to stop giving the government money over fears of growing debt.

Higher debt = higher taxes
Amid all this, parliament has failed in its job to control borrowing and has approved nearly every request to incur more debt. Hence public debt now amounts to around 65% of the country's annual income - small by richer country's standards, but Kenya struggles to afford it.
Nevertheless the government wants to take on more debt, but Kenyans know who is going to pay for what they see as state profligacy.
Taxes have already gone up since the tax holiday, introduced because of the pandemic, ended in December. And now there are higher fuel prices.
Many here therefore are eyeing the IMF loan with suspicion, thinking it will result in more corruption and more taxation.
Akina okiya msisahau hii mambo yoote ililetwa na uhuru na raila.