Kenyan Diaspora Protests IMF Policies Outside Washington Headquarters

Kenyans residing in Washington DC staged a demonstration outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters on Saturday.

The demonstrators expressed their discontent with the organization’s involvement in Kenya’s economic affairs. The protestors, adorned in the colours of the Kenyan flag, vocalized anti-IMF slogans and played Kenyan music to draw attention to their cause. The demonstrators displayed placards accusing the IMF of meddling in Kenya’s internal matters and demanded accountability for the violence that occurred during recent protests in Kenya. Messages such as “IMF Set Kenya Free” and “We Demand Transparency. Kenya 1st, IMF Last” were prominently displayed.

The protestors argued that the IMF’s loans, rather than fostering development, are burdening Kenya with unsustainable debt. One protestor highlighted that concerns about the IMF’s influence had been raised as early as 2018, predating the controversial Finance Bill 2024. The protestors attributed the increasing tax burden on Kenyans to the IMF’s policies. They specifically criticized the IMF-inspired finance bill, which they claim resulted in the deaths of 53 people during recent protests. The demonstrators accused the IMF of colluding with African leaders, particularly President William Samoei Ruto, to impose austerity measures that negatively impact crucial sectors such as education and healthcare.

The Kenyan diaspora in Washington DC also expressed dissatisfaction with the austerity measures announced by President Ruto, deeming them inadequate to address the concerns raised by Kenyans. They voiced solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives during the anti-government protests that began on June 18 across Kenya. In addition to calling for an end to IMF loans to Kenya, the protestors urged the new cabinet to focus on drafting measures to combat corruption instead of relying on international lenders such as the IMF and World Bank. These protests in Washington DC follow weeks of heated demonstrations in Kenya, where citizens have also accused the IMF of being behind the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which many blame for the increased cost of living and economic hardships.

On June 27, the IMF responded to the unrest in Kenya, stating that it was closely monitoring the situation and would continue to work with the Kenyan government. The protests in Washington DC are part of a broader movement by Kenyans both at home and abroad to hold the IMF accountable for its role in shaping Kenya’s economic policies. Kenya has received significant financial support from the IMF in recent years. In November 2023, the IMF announced a staff-level agreement with Kenya that provided immediate access to a $682.3 million tranche. In May 2024, the Central Bank of Kenya announced that the country would receive Sh131 billion from the IMF in June. These disbursements are part of an IMF program that began in 2021 and is set to continue until May 2025.