Debates about the sustainability Kenya’s borrowing continue to draw mixed reactions across the county, even as public debt hits an all-time high of Ksh.5 trillion.

The government has borrowed Ksh.2.448 trillion locally, while foreign debt stands at Ksh.2.563 trillion – numbers that have prompted a section of Kenyans to question the judiciousness of state borrowing.

While some economic pundits contend that Kenya ever-escalating debt has risen to dangerous levels, Strathmore Business School’s Dr Jim McFie thinks otherwise.

McFie argues that Kenya’s borrowing is sustainable, pointing out that Kenya’s debt stands at only 54 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In this SDV exclusive, he compares Kenya’s debt to GDP ratio to other countries, giving context to the ongoing debate.