By the 254.ke Newsroom
Kenya’s gross domestic debt stood at Sh7.88 trillion on October 23, 2026, according to the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) weekly bulletin of October 30. That is Sh63 billion more than a week earlier and about Sh1.05 trillion above the Sh6.84 trillion recorded on December 31, 2025. The most recent full public debt figure, covering both domestic and external borrowing, is Sh13.48 trillion as of August 2026 (provisional).
How much domestic debt does Kenya owe now?
The bulletin puts gross domestic debt at Sh7,884.79 billion on October 23, up from Sh7,821.53 billion on October 16. Treasury bonds account for Sh6,561.00 billion of the stock and Treasury bills for Sh1,224.85 billion. Bonds make up 83.21% of domestic debt, and bills 15.53%.
| Date | Gross domestic debt (Sh billion) |
|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 6,837.51 |
| June 30, 2026 | 7,327.20 |
| August 31, 2026 | 7,676.02 |
| October 16, 2026 | 7,821.53 |
| October 23, 2026 | 7,884.79 |
Source: CBK Weekly Bulletins, October 23 and October 30, 2026.
What is Kenya’s total public debt?
The latest total in the bulletin is for August 2026 and is marked provisional. Public debt was Sh13,475.15 billion, made up of Sh7,676.02 billion in domestic debt and Sh5,799.13 billion in external debt. The external portion equals US$44.80 billion. In July the total was Sh13,228.89 billion, so it rose by roughly Sh246 billion in a month. The table cites the National Treasury and the CBK as its source.
What else did the CBK report this week?
- Shilling: Sh129.96 to the US dollar on October 29, against Sh129.91 on October 22. The CBK described it as stable.
- Foreign exchange reserves: US$14,740 million on October 29, equal to 5.9 months of import cover. The CBK aims to keep at least four months.
- Inflation: The bulletin cites overall inflation at 7.3% in October, up from 6.8% in September, with pump prices rising on higher international oil prices.
- Treasury bills: The October 29 auction drew bids of Sh51.9 billion for Sh28.0 billion on offer, a 185.2% subscription. Average rates were 8.750% on the 91-day bill, 8.851% on the 182-day and 9.029% on the 364-day.
- Nairobi Securities Exchange: The NASI rose 4.16% to 237.61, while the NSE 25 fell 2.97% to 6,556.60 and the NSE 20 fell 2.61% to 4,111.65. Shares traded dropped 97.55% because of the base effect of a large block trade of KPLC shares the previous week.
- Oil: Murban crude was US$110.46 a barrel on October 29, up from US$108.23.
Why does the debt figure keep climbing?
The bulletin reports the stock of debt, not the reasons for borrowing, so it does not explain the rise. What it does show is that the increase has come through the domestic market, where government securities remain heavily subscribed. Bills were oversubscribed nearly twice this week, and rates on the 91-day bill have held at about 8.75% in recent auctions. For background on those rates, see our report on Kenya T-bill rates in October 2026 and on the CBK’s October rate decision.
Inflation is the other pressure point. Our earlier piece on October inflation at 7.3% covers which items drove the jump, and the previous bulletin is covered in Kenya shilling rate: Sh129.81 as forex reserves slip.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Kenya’s domestic debt in November 2026?
The latest figure is Sh7,884.79 billion as of October 23, 2026, from the CBK’s October 30 weekly bulletin.
What is Kenya’s total public debt?
Sh13,475.15 billion in August 2026 (provisional), combining Sh7,676.02 billion of domestic and Sh5,799.13 billion of external debt.
Where can I check the debt numbers myself?
The CBK publishes its bulletin every week on its website. The debt tables are in the weekly bulletin section of centralbank.go.ke.
Is the shilling stable?
The CBK says it remained stable, at Sh129.96 per dollar on October 29, with reserves covering 5.9 months of imports.
