Kenyans, angry, still very mobilized on the internet. For about 2 months, they have been calling on the IMF to stop lending money, while these loans are constantly diverted, they denounce. Despite their strong mobilization, the International Monetary Fund has granted a new loan of 2.34 billion dollars to avoid the over-indebtedness of the country. But Kenyans’ exasperation is at its peak and they are making it known, as usual, through social networks.
It was live on Facebook a few weeks ago: an online conference of the IMF Managing Director disrupted by thousands of comments from Internet users. The #stoploaningKenya, “stop lending to Kenya” went viral. The mobilization has not stopped to this day.
“Between March 2020 and March 2021, Kenya took out loans at a level never seen in the last 10, 20 years,” says Kenyan journalist Waihiga Mwaura. Citizens have taken to social media to express their frustration and concern about Kenya’s debt. ”
An online petition denouncing the continued misappropriation of these funds now has over 235,000 signatures. There has been no shortage of corruption scandals since the pandemic began.
Of course, the IMF does not base its decisions on social networks,” says Waihiga Mwaura. But Kenyans wanted to send a strong message. It is common knowledge that the economy is severely weakened by the level of corruption. Social media gives Kenyans a direct way to express themselves. You know, some people have lost their jobs because of this kind of online mobilization. That would not have been possible 10 years ago. ”
It’s hard for politicians to ignore Internet users today… One year before the presidential elections, Kenyans intend to maintain their mobilization.