NAIROBI, Kenya, July 1 – Civil society organisations have warned that Kenya’s growing public debt is reducing funding available for healthcare and other essential public services, calling for reforms to the global lending system.
The groups made the remarks during the launch of the Freedom from Debt Campaign, saying rising debt servicing costs are limiting the government’s ability to finance hospitals, medicines, vaccines and healthcare workers.
The coalition, which includes the Health NGOs Network (HENNET), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Health Rights Advocacy Forum (HERAF) and the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK), argued that Kenya’s debt challenges reflect a wider trend across Africa.
They said governments are increasingly directing more resources towards debt repayments at the expense of health, education and social protection.
“While we agreed to repay the debt, I don’t think there is any government that agreed to repay the debt by the human lives of their citizens,” the campaign said.
“Kenya is paying nine times in debt what it is investing in health.”
The groups cited shortages of HIV test kits, antiretroviral drugs and other essential medical supplies as signs of growing pressure on the health sector, particularly following a decline in donor funding.
They also argued that African countries continue to face high borrowing costs, blaming the international lending system and global credit rating agencies for making it more expensive for developing countries to access financing.
Among the reforms proposed under the campaign are the creation of a borrowers’ forum to negotiate debt collectively, automatic suspension of debt repayments during public emergencies, establishment of a public debt register and greater public participation in government borrowing decisions.
The Freedom from Debt Campaign is being launched in about 50 countries, with organisers calling for reforms to create a fairer and more sustainable global financing system.
