The Kenyan government issues two new series of 10-year optionless bonds. They are completely identical, except that one is denominated in Kenyan Shillings (KES) and the other in British Pounds (GBP). Which offering will most likely be given a higher rating by Moody’s?
It is more risky for a government to pay off a debt in a
foreign currency than in their own. The Kenyan government could pay off its KES
issue off by printing new money. A KES
issue will be given a higher credit rating, though British investors may
experience high currency risk.