Kenyan taxpayers have little choice but to repay the country's Sh11.5 trillion debt, as long as it was legally contracted by the National Treasury and ratified by Parliament.
This is according to political economist and former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, who has warned against defaulting on legally obtained foreign loans, even if mismanaged. "If the loans were properly executed by the Treasury, which has the powers under the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act and the constitution, and the same was submitted to Parliament and ratified, then it becomes very difficult to challenge their legality," said Kerrow on Spice FM on Wednesday.
The political economist said that the 349 members of the National Assembly have the power to check government borrowing, but have largely failed to do so, often succumbing to pressure from the Executive.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and businessman Jimi Wanjigi are among those who have challenged the legality of some of Kenya's debts.
