Time’s Up. Kenya’s Debt Deferral Deal With China Runs Out at the End of the Month and a Big Payment is Due

Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

The 6-month debt deferral deal that Kenya secured with China back in January under the auspices of the G20 is now coming to an end and the government will either have to come up with almost a billion dollars to begin loan payments or negotiate another debt repayment holiday.

The debts for the $1.5 billion Nairobi to Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway line were part of this debt deferral arrangement. The first $897 million payment of that and other loans, mostly from the China Exim Bank, is due on July 1st.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP