President Uhuru Kenyatta warned international development agencies, and the U.S. and Europe on Friday against using Kenya’s current debt crisis as a pretext to lecture the country and interfere in its affairs.

“Please, I ask you to refrain from interfering, telling us or trying to direct us on which way we should go,” said Kenyatta. “We are clear about where we want to go. We ask you to join us to support us in that endeavor. But do not interfere because we shall not allow you to dictate to us which direction that should be because that is up to Kenyans,” he said at a speech in Nairobi county.