Kenya's public debt: key factsDeni la taifa la Kenya: mambo muhimu

Kenya’s total public debt is about KSh 13.56 trillion as at 25 October 2026. Of this, KSh 7.58 trillion (55.9%) is domestic debt, owed mainly to banks, pension funds and other investors in Kenya, and KSh 5.97 trillion (44.1%) is external debt, owed to foreign lenders such as the World Bank, the IMF, other governments and holders of Kenya’s Eurobonds.Jumla ya deni la umma la Kenya ni takriban KSh 13.56 trillion kufikia 25 Oktoba 2026. Kati ya hilo, KSh 7.58 trillion (55.9%) ni deni la ndani, na KSh 5.97 trillion (44.1%) ni deni la nje, linalodaiwa na wakopeshaji wa kigeni kama Benki ya Dunia, IMF, serikali nyingine na wamiliki wa Eurobond za Kenya.

The live figure starts from the Central Bank of Kenya's latest published monthly debt and adds the estimated growth since then.Takwimu ya moja kwa moja inaanzia deni la karibuni lililochapishwa na Benki Kuu ya Kenya na kuongeza ukuaji unaokadiriwa tangu wakati huo.

Chart: Kenya's debt since 1999 →Chati: deni la Kenya tangu 1999 →

If the public debt were shared equally, every Kenyan would owe about KSh 248,700, based on a population of about 55 million.Iwapo deni la umma lingegawanywa sawa, kila Mkenya angedaiwa takriban KSh 248,700, kwa idadi ya watu takriban milioni 55.

Chart: debt per person over time →Chati: deni kwa kila mtu →

Kenya’s public debt is about 71.8% of GDP. That is above the 55% of GDP debt anchor in the Public Finance Management Act, and above the East African Community’s 50% convergence limit. The ratio shows how large the debt is compared with the whole economy, and so how heavy the debt burden is.Deni la umma la Kenya ni takriban 71.8% ya Pato la Taifa, juu ya kikomo cha 55% katika Sheria ya Usimamizi wa Fedha za Umma, na juu ya kikomo cha 50% cha Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki.

Chart: debt-to-GDP, domestic and external →Chati: deni kwa Pato la Taifa →

In FY 2025/26, Kenya spent KSh 1,773 billion servicing its public debt: KSh 802 billion in principal repayments and KSh 971 billion in interest. Debt service was equal to 68.5% of government revenue, and interest alone to 37.5%. Of the total, KSh 716 billion went to external lenders and KSh 1,057 billion to domestic lenders.Mwaka wa fedha 2025/26, Kenya ilitumia KSh 1,773 billion kulipa deni la umma: KSh 802 billion kulipa msingi wa mikopo na KSh 971 billion kama riba; hii ni sawa na 68.5% ya mapato ya serikali.

Chart: debt service and the share of revenue it takes →Chati: ulipaji wa deni →

Chart: the interest rate Kenya pays on its debt →Chati: riba ambayo Kenya inalipa →

As at 30 June 2026, external debt was owed mostly in US Dollar (USD) (44.9%), Special Drawing Rights (XDR) (23.7%) and Euro (EUR) (19.3%), so a weaker shilling makes it larger.Kufikia 30 June 2026, deni la nje lilikuwa hasa kwa US Dollar (USD) (44.9%), Special Drawing Rights (XDR) (23.7%) na Euro (EUR) (19.3%), hivyo shilingi ikidhoofika deni hili huongezeka.

Domestic debt is mostly Treasury bonds (KSh 6,021 billion) and Treasury bills (KSh 1,118 billion), as at 30 June 2026.Deni la ndani ni hasa hatifungani za Serikali (KSh 6,021 billion) na hati za muda mfupi (KSh 1,118 billion), kufikia 30 June 2026.

Chart: external debt by currency →Chati: deni la nje kwa sarafu →

Chart: domestic debt by instrument →Chati: deni la ndani kwa aina →

At the current pace the debt grows by about KSh 34,960 every second, KSh 3.0 billion a day, or about KSh 1.10 trillion a year. The live debt clock shows it rising in real time.Kwa kasi ya sasa deni linaongezeka kwa takriban KSh 34,960 kila sekunde, KSh 3.0 billion kila siku, au takriban KSh 1.10 trillion kwa mwaka.

Open the live Kenya debt clock →Fungua kipima deni →

Whether a debt burden is sustainable depends on how fast the economy grows compared with the interest rate on the debt, on how large the budget deficit is, and on how much of revenue and exports goes to debt service. The charts below compare Kenya's growth with its interest costs, its deficits with the rise in debt, and its debt indicators with the IMF–World Bank, legal and EAC thresholds.Uendelevu wa deni unategemea kasi ya ukuaji wa uchumi ikilinganishwa na riba ya deni, ukubwa wa nakisi ya bajeti, na sehemu ya mapato na mauzo ya nje inayokwenda kulipa deni. Chati zilizo hapa chini zinalinganisha ukuaji na gharama za riba, nakisi na ongezeko la deni, na viashiria vya deni dhidi ya viwango vya IMF–Benki ya Dunia, sheria na EAC.

Chart: growth vs the interest rate on debt →Chati: ukuaji dhidi ya riba →

Chart: debt indicators vs thresholds →Chati: viashiria dhidi ya viwango →

The Central Bank of Kenya (monthly public debt, revenue and expenditure, interest and exchange rates), the National Treasury and the Office of the Controller of Budget (debt service, debt composition), and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (GDP and population). Figures between official releases are IEA Kenya estimates and are labelled as such.Benki Kuu ya Kenya, Hazina ya Taifa, Ofisi ya Mdhibiti wa Bajeti, na Shirika la Kitaifa la Takwimu la Kenya. Takwimu kati ya matoleo rasmi ni makadirio ya IEA Kenya na zimewekwa lebo hivyo.

How the figures are calculated →Jinsi takwimu zinavyokokotolewa →