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Kenya’s debt to rise to 60pc of GDP in 2018 – Moody’s Rating
POSTED ON OCTOBER 17, 2017 BY KENNEDY KANGETHE
Kenya’s debt to GDP has gone up from 40.5pc in 2012 to 56.4 in 2017 with loans mainly going to fund infrastructure projects/CFM BUSINESS
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 17 – Kenya’s rising debt is set to hit 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product by June 2018 according to Global rating agency Moody’s Investors Service.
In their latest report, the agency says Kenya’s debt to GDP has gone up to 56.4 percent from 40.5 percent in 2012.
Moody’s attributes the projected rise to high primary deficits and borrowing costs.
Kenya’s debt is currently at Sh4 trillion, 13 percentage points above IMF’s recommended benchmark for emerging countries.
According to Treasury, nearly half of the external debt is concessional compared to the costly commercial loans, with the other half held in domestic debts through treasury bonds and bills.
A $750 million (Sh7.6 billion) syndicated loan borrowed in 2015 is due for repayment this year, while the $2 billion Euro bond will mature in 2024, further exerting pressure on the government to set provisions for the payments.
The IMF, in its review of Kenya a year ago, said Kenya’s risk of external debt distress remains low but notes there is need for reduction in the deficit over the medium term.
The World Economic Forum ranks Kenya at number 77 out of 138 countries using the GDP/debt ratio score.
Japan is the most indebted country with a score of 248.1 percent of GDP, followed by Greece (178.4pc), Lebanon (139.1pc). The United States, ranked at 128, has a debt to GDP ratio of 105.8 percent, but with the highest total debt of $17.9 trillion.
Hong Kong, Brunei and Saudi Arabia are the least indebted countries at 0.1, 3.1 and 5.8 percent respectively. Algeria is fourth globally at 8.7 percent, while Nigeria is seventh at 11.5 percent of the GDP.
In Africa, Kenya lies 14th, ranking slightly higher than Zambia (52.9%), Zimbabwe (53%) and Tunisia (54.5%)
Kenya’s debt to rise to 60pc of GDP in 2018 – Moody's Rating - Capital Business
POSTED ON OCTOBER 17, 2017 BY KENNEDY KANGETHE
Kenya’s debt to GDP has gone up from 40.5pc in 2012 to 56.4 in 2017 with loans mainly going to fund infrastructure projects/CFM BUSINESS
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 17 – Kenya’s rising debt is set to hit 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product by June 2018 according to Global rating agency Moody’s Investors Service.
In their latest report, the agency says Kenya’s debt to GDP has gone up to 56.4 percent from 40.5 percent in 2012.
Moody’s attributes the projected rise to high primary deficits and borrowing costs.
Kenya’s debt is currently at Sh4 trillion, 13 percentage points above IMF’s recommended benchmark for emerging countries.
According to Treasury, nearly half of the external debt is concessional compared to the costly commercial loans, with the other half held in domestic debts through treasury bonds and bills.
A $750 million (Sh7.6 billion) syndicated loan borrowed in 2015 is due for repayment this year, while the $2 billion Euro bond will mature in 2024, further exerting pressure on the government to set provisions for the payments.
The IMF, in its review of Kenya a year ago, said Kenya’s risk of external debt distress remains low but notes there is need for reduction in the deficit over the medium term.
The World Economic Forum ranks Kenya at number 77 out of 138 countries using the GDP/debt ratio score.
Japan is the most indebted country with a score of 248.1 percent of GDP, followed by Greece (178.4pc), Lebanon (139.1pc). The United States, ranked at 128, has a debt to GDP ratio of 105.8 percent, but with the highest total debt of $17.9 trillion.
Hong Kong, Brunei and Saudi Arabia are the least indebted countries at 0.1, 3.1 and 5.8 percent respectively. Algeria is fourth globally at 8.7 percent, while Nigeria is seventh at 11.5 percent of the GDP.
In Africa, Kenya lies 14th, ranking slightly higher than Zambia (52.9%), Zimbabwe (53%) and Tunisia (54.5%)
Kenya’s debt to rise to 60pc of GDP in 2018 – Moody's Rating - Capital Business