Civil society leaders in Kenya are calling for sweeping reforms to the global debt architecture, arguing that rising debt repayments are starving African governments of resources needed to finance healthcare, education and other essential public services while trapping countries in a cycle of borrowing.
Speaking at the launch of the Freedom from Debt campaign in Nairobi, representatives of health and development organizations said the global movement, taking place simultaneously in about 50 countries, seeks to pressure international lenders to adopt fairer financing rules and give borrowing nations greater bargaining power.
The campaign comes as many African countries devote an increasing share of public revenue to servicing debt,…