§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their present view on aid to Kenya in the light of the policy towards the IMF recently announced by President Moi and their current assessment of the human rights situation.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)We regret Kenya's decision to suspend its IMF/IBRD economic reform programme and reverse key economic liberalisation measures. We have urged them to reopen discussions with the bank and the fund. We have made it clear that Britain will not consider providing new balance of payments support until agreement has been reached with the IFIs on measures to put the economy back on track and the necessary actions taken. Meanwhile, our humanitarian aid and technical co-operation and finance for specific projects continues.
Kenya's human rights record remains relatively good. We welcomed the reintroduction of multi-party democracy last December. But there are concerns that more could be done to bring ethnic tensions under 51WA control and, to a lesser extent, over the Government's attitude towards opposition and press activities. We have made these known to the Kenyans.