Kenya’s Debt Payments to China Shoot Up as Grace Periods End

Exterior of Kenya's National Treasury building in Nairobi. Simon Mania/AFP

Kenya’s debt repayments to China will jump by 135% as grace periods for the repayment of large infrastructure loans come to an end. Kenya will pay $630.7 million to Chinese lenders this financial year, up from $268.2 million last year.

The payments will add additional pressure on the Kenyan economy, already struggling with a lopsided trade balance with China and currency pressures.

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by Cobus van Staden

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