By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, May 05, 2026 - A governance lobby group has petitioned Parliament to compel the government to make public a key report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), intensifying pressure for transparency in Kenya’s public finance management.
The petition, submitted to the National Assembly, calls on lawmakers to ensure the immediate release of the IMF governance diagnostic report, which is believed to contain critical findings on corruption risks, institutional weaknesses, and gaps in accountability across government systems.
According to the lobby, withholding the report undermines public trust and denies citizens access to crucial information about how public resources are managed.
The group argues that the findings are of significant public interest, particularly at a time when Kenyans are grappling with a high cost of living and increased taxation.
“Kenyans have a right to know what the IMF found regarding governance and corruption risks in the country. Keeping such a report secret only raises more questions,” the lobby stated, urging MPs to intervene and demand accountability from the Executive.
The IMF governance diagnostic assessments are typically conducted to help countries identify vulnerabilities in public institutions, including procurement systems, anti-corruption frameworks, and fiscal oversight mechanisms. These reports often inform policy reforms tied to IMF funding programmes.
In Kenya’s case, the report is understood to have been completed as part of ongoing engagements between the government and the IMF under its financing programme.
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However, its contents have not been officially disclosed, sparking speculation and concern among civil society groups.
Members of Parliament are now being urged to use their oversight role to push for its release. The petitioners argue that transparency around the report would not only strengthen accountability but also guide reforms aimed at improving governance and restoring public confidence.
The push comes amid broader scrutiny of Kenya’s fiscal management, with rising public debt, increased taxation, and concerns over the efficiency of public spending dominating public discourse.
Releasing the report could provide a clearer picture of systemic challenges and the steps needed to address them. At the same time, the government has maintained that it is committed to governance reforms and transparency, although it has yet to publicly respond to calls for the report’s release.
What is emerging is a growing tension between confidentiality in international financial engagements and the public’s demand for openness. For Parliament, the petition presents a critical test of its oversight role, whether it will push for full disclosure in the interest of accountability, or allow the report to remain out of public reach.