Kenyans Online ‘Warn’ President Uhuru against Taking More Loans

Kenyans have taken to social media to 'caution' President Kenyatta against taking more loans from foreign countries.

This comes after Kenyatta held meetings with a number of world leaders on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) summit in New York, United States.

The President shared details of the meetings on his social media pages but Kenyans online were quick to remind him of Kenya’s high public debt that has soared under his administration.

In one of his tweets, Kenyatta said he had held talks with American billionaire Bill Gates. “Held discussions with @BillGates and @melindagates, the founders of the @gatesfoundation, on the sidelines of the 73rd #UNGA,” Kenyatta said.

Online users who commented on this post expressed fears that the President might have signed for more loans.

@Zakalaah tweeted: “Usijaribu kuomba pesa wewe."

Another user @stevohmuchoki noted: “Kopa tu bill gates na hujamalizana na kina donny yen…”

Kenyans online also made similar comments when Uhuru met Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

“I was delighted to meet and hold bilateral talks with the President of Portugal H.E. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,” Kenyatta tweeted.

One @aganyodav commented: “But don’t borrow any money please…. Wacha tulipe China kwanza.”

@Wa_njoki jokingly noted: “China wamekuweka CRB sa umehamia Portugal?!”

A similar trend continued when the President held talks with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the periphery of the New York summit.

@momanyijose tweeted: "Don’t borrow anything don’t invite them to Kenya just ask them how they are and say goodbye please.”

@YouthKenyan noted: “I’m reading this as borrowed some money from UN sec gen.”

The country's public debt currently stand at more that Sh7 trillion and the National Treasury expects it to hit Sh7 trillion by the time Kenyatta exits office in 2022.