Kenya expects its economy to expand by 5.6 per cent in 2025, outpacing official forecasts and last year's 4.7 per cent growth, its President William Ruto said at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama on Wednesday. The outlook is stronger than projections by the finance ministry and central bank, which had estimated growth at 5.3 and 5.2 per cent, respectively. Ruto said the country was on track despite global trade disruptions and rising US tariffs. During the conference, Kenya and Japan signed a yen-denominated loan agreement backed by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), aimed at lowering borrowing costs and supporting Kenya's infrastructure and development financing needs. Details on pricing and terms were not disclosed yet. Japan has been expanding economic ties across Africa, with recent funding in Kenya spanning energy, roads and research projects. Kenya's finance ministry noted that while growth momentum remains strong, risks persist from global trade tensions, market volatility and extreme weather conditions. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
