Nairobi, June 21 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to cut its policy setting meetings to four from the current six in a year to align the regulator with data releases which will allow it to conduct elaborate forecasts on inflation.

The multilateral lender, which helped CBK improve its forecasting and policy analysis system (FPAS) through a technical assistance mission, noted that current forecasts are not synchronised with the release of quarterly national accounts data published four times a year.

CBK currently holds its policy setting meetings on a bimonthly basis, reaching up to six meetings a year but has the leeway to hold more meetings on a need/emergency basis.

The IMF, however, a...