Nairobi, 4 Feb - (ANA) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to make loans of around $700m (£460m) available to Kenya. The money will be used as an insurance policy to protect against any threats to the country's economy, considered a financial powerhouse in East Africa. The Kenyan government requested the package as a precautionary measure, in case of an emergency such as a natural disaster or militant attack. The funds will be available for the next 12 months. The ministry of finance has told the IMF it doesn't intend to use the funds. Instead it will act as security against "economic shocks", the IMF said. (ANA)

FA/ANA/4 February 2014--------