THIS is why they want you on a regulated, stifled, censored internet. We got online and learned far more than they ever thought we could. ...
Lynda
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By Njeri Wangari
Kenyans online have, for the last three days now, been holding online protests against the decision by International Monetary Fund (IMF) to approve a $2.34bn loan facility for Kenya urging the multilateral agency to review its decision.
Using the hashtags #StopLoaningKenya and #StopGivingKenyaLoans, Kenyans rejected the loan and expressed their frustrations with the IMF for approving additional debt in what they see as another national debt repayment burden, at a time when corruption and misuse of public funds has escalated. This current loan is intended to fund a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenyans on FB and Twitter rejection of IMF lending Kenya government’s more money is a fascinating sign of things to come in global finance. Government might not care, but IMF is definitely sensitive to bad PR.
— Grant (@GrantBrooke) April 5, 2021
In the past 12 months alone, Kenya has received $6.4bn in the form of grants and loans for COVID-19 response, according to a list compiled by Mary Mukami, an accountant by profession and a social media user, from press coverage.
704 Billion in just one year for COVID Response? Kenyans demand an explanation from GOK!!!! Lazima #Kijulikane pic.twitter.com/Wam5K4vbtP
— Hustler 031 (@_Hustler031) April 5, 2021
While many directed their frustrations towards the IMF, most were angry at President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government for continuing to burden Kenyans with bad loans and pushing the country deeper into debt, despite increased corruption and lack of accountability. Using screenshots of newspaper headlines, many users on Twitter gave their numerous reasons and evidence why IMF should stop loaning Kenya.
#StopGivingKenyaLoans #ImpactOfTheLoans
Need we say more pic.twitter.com/7bUXkbtJUs
— Cathyy (@yo_njeri) April 7, 2021
Kenyan Activist arrested
On 7th April, as online protests continued, Kenyan activist Mutemi Kiama was arrested for allegedly creating and publishing a poster warning the IMF against giving President Uhuru a new loan Kiama, who tweets using @MutemiWaKiama and @WanjikuRevolt, published a public notice poster on his twitter handle with a disclaimer from Kenyan citizens cautioning global lenders against transacting with the president and his vice president.
🔥🔥🔥#UnlockOurCountry #StopLoaningKenya! pic.twitter.com/LFE0IyG83t
— Mwarimū Mūtemi wa Kīama (@MutemiWaKiama) April 6, 2021
The following day, Kiama was presented in court facing charges of contravening various provisions of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, including false publication. However, Kenya’s high Court dismissed the case made by the state prosecution, and declined to grant 14 days to gather evidence. Despite the absence of any cause to retain him, the court ordered the release of Kiama on a cash bail of $500USD.
COURT GRANTS activist Mutemi Kiama Sh500,000 cash bail; orders him to report daily to the investigating officer for the next 10 days.https://t.co/76mRXJLqfD pic.twitter.com/1gOT206sTt
— Nation Breaking News (@NationBreaking) April 8, 2021
Fellow Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi, called to question the decision by the Kenyan High court, describing it as a “loud threat” to all Kenyan social media users against criticizing the government.
On 4th April, Jefferson Murrey, a concerned Kenyan citizen, created an online petition to the IMF to cancel the Kshs. 255 billion loan to Kenya. A section of his petition details reads:
The news that the IMF recently approved a Kshs. 255 billion loan to the Kenyan government has left many Kenyans shocked and very disappointed. This is due to the fact that previous loans to the Kenya government have not been prudently utilized and have often ended up in mega corruption scandals. These scams have not deterred the ruling Jubilee government’s appetite for more loans, especially from China. Right now, Kenyans are choking under the burden of heavy taxation, with the cost of basic commodities such as fuel skyrocketing, and nothing to show for the previous loans. Our President, Uhuru Kenyatta, is even on record lamenting that Kshs. 2 billion is lost daily to corruption in Kenya. The same President recently approved a luxury car grant bribe to get junior lawmakers to pass controversial changes to the Constitution, punching another hole on an already shoestring budget.