Kenya’s fight against corruption has taken a new direction after the International Monetary Fund completed a high-level corruption investigation on President William Ruto’s administration.
This detailed probe, led by the IMF’s Technical Assistance team, focused on institutions that handle public money and national resources. Over two weeks, the team looked closely into tax policies, the mining sector, market regulation, and public financial management systems. Their goal was to uncover the hidden corruption networks that continue to drain public money in silence.
The IMF’s team, headed by Rebecca Sparkman, carried out the assessment from June 16 to June 30, 2025. It followed an earlier scoping mission that was held in March. The team met with people from the National Treasury, the Central Bank, civil society organisations, and the private sector. They wanted to know how much money the country loses through bribery, theft, and abuse of power, and why existing anti-corruption laws are failing to solve the problem. Their findings show a very disturbing situation.
A photo of President William Ruto during the past UN meeting. Photo courtesy/handout
The IMF’s probe covered several key areas. These included how the government manages public money, how taxes are collected and enforced, how the mining sector is handled, how courts deal with corruption cases, and how anti-money laundering systems are working. In every one of these areas, the team found serious problems with governance and signs of deep-rooted corruption. They warned that the country faces major economic risks if urgent reforms are not made.
Although no names were mentioned in the early findings, the IMF confirmed that some ministries blocked access to key financial records. This made it clear that some people were trying to hide evidence. Ruto’s government had asked for the assessment last year, but some officials are now being accused of interfering with the process.
Kenya’s debt situation has worsened, with more taxes being forced on citizens while healthcare, food security, and education continue to suffer.
The IMF found that billions of shillings are lost due to fake tenders, ghost projects, and deliberate loopholes that benefit powerful elites. Even the judiciary, which should help fight corruption, was accused of being part of the problem.
Insiders told the IMF that bribes and political interference often decide how corruption cases end up. Cases involving top allies of the current administration have gone silent or been delayed without reason.
Ruto’s team continues to blame past governments, but the IMF findings show that the current leadership has done little to end graft. Instead, it appears that the old corruption systems have only changed shape and grown stronger.
A draft report is expected later this year, with a full reform plan based on Kenya’s current weaknesses. But many Kenyans have already lost hope. Civil society and opposition groups are demanding the immediate release of the report. They believe hiding it only protects those who continue to steal from the public.
So far, the government has avoided speaking about the serious findings. Instead, State House has given general comments about working with international partners, without facing the real issues.
The question now is whether Ruto’s administration will finally act, or whether this report will be ignored like many others before it. If no real change happens, it may be up to ordinary Kenyans to keep pushing for accountability on their own.
