Nairobi, May 13 -- President William Ruto and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva have held talks in Nairobi in the race to unlock a new funding before July.

Kenya says it is nearing the end of talks with the IMF on the possibility of a new a multi-billion shilling funding programme in discussions that began in March 2025 without bearing fresh loans.

The Treasury has omitted IMF funding from national budgets for four fiscal years to June 2030, but is keen on new loans amid fears of external shocks in the wake of the US-Israel war against Iran. Kenya has been without an IMF programme since March last year when the fund froze loans after the country failed to meet key performance indicators.

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