Kenya's economy to rebound in 2018 - minister
Tuesday November 07 2017
Kenya's Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich. PHOTO | NMG
Kenya’s economy should rebound in 2018 after a slowdown this year that was caused by drought and political turmoil during a prolonged election cycle, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said on Tuesday.
Economic growth is forecast to rise to more than 6 per cent next year and to move towards 7 per cent in the medium term, Rotich said.
He had earlier trimmed the 2017 forecast to 5 per cent from a previous projection of 5.5 per cent, which itself was a reduction from 5.9 per cent.
The economy grew 5 per cent in the first half of the year, the government said, falling short of its full-year forecast.
“By and large, agriculture this year will be better than last year, that is the reason why our growth looks optimistic, even at this time when we face these challenges on the investment side,” Rotich told a news conference.
Rotich said that revenue collections for the first four months of the 2017/18 (July-June) fiscal year had fallen short by Ksh40 billion ($386.47 million).
Kenya’s economy has faced a slowdown for the better part of the year. In addition to the drought and its political uncertainty, credit growth has slowed, partly because of a cap on commercial bank lending rates imposed last September.
READ: Kenya economy hit hard by political limbo
Elections
Kenya held presidential elections on August 8, but the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win and ordered a repeat election.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga boycotted the new election, on October 26, and Kenyatta won again, with 98 per cent of the vote, in a campaign marred by violent protests.
On Monday, a former lawmaker filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging Kenyatta’s second victory, in a last-minute move that opened the door to legal scrutiny of the vote.
READ: Kenya repeat presidential vote challenged
Kenya is a regional hub for trade, diplomacy and security and its prolonged election season has disrupted its economy.
The International Monetary Fund has also cut its 2017 growth forecast for this year to 5 per cent from its initial forecast of more than 5 per cent.
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