Kenya eyes bigger global role as President courts investors
BETHUEL KAINO-PCS
President William Ruto has outlined Kenya’s strategic position in the evolving global order, highlighting the country’s investment potential and Africa’s growing role on the world stage during a public lecture in Rome, Italy.
Speaking at the Luiss School of Government during the visit under the theme “Kenya: A Country Looking Towards the Future,” the Head of State said Kenya is redesigning its government systems through digitisation to enhance accessibility, transparency, and responsiveness in service delivery.
“For far too long, especially in leadership, we have tolerated the average and constrained our ambition. That era has come to an end,” President Ruto said, noting that his administration is pursuing bold reforms aimed at transforming Kenya into a first-world economy within a generation.
The President said the government is prioritising large-scale infrastructure development, including roads, railways, airports and seaports, as part of efforts to strengthen connectivity and drive economic growth.
He added that Kenya is also undertaking an exportled agricultural transformation anchored on food security and large-scale irrigation.
This, he explained, will involve the construction of at least 50 mega dams to bring more than 2.5 million acres of land into productive use, with at least three of the projects expected to advance following his visit to Italy.
On energy, President Ruto said Kenya plans to more than triple its installed electricity capacity over the next seven years to support industrialisation and technological advancement.
“Industrialisation requires energy that is reliable, affordable and sufficient to match the pace of enterprise,” he said.
To finance these ambitions, the government is adopting innovative funding models through partnerships with the private sector.
He cited the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund as key vehicles for mobilising domestic and international capital for projects estimated at €33 billion (Sh5 trillion).
Turning to continental issues, the President emphasised Africa’s growing importance in global trade, citing the African Continental Free Trade Area as a transformative platform unlocking a market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of $3.7 trillion.
He noted that the AfCFTA has the potential to boost Africa’s exports by more than $560 billion by 2035, particularly in manufacturing and industrial goods.
“Africa is not merely the next frontier of global trade and investment; it is one of the defining opportunities of our time,” he said.
President Ruto, however, pointed out that Africa’s trade with partners such as the European Union remains heavily skewed towards raw materials, with manufactured goods accounting for less than 20 per cent of exports compared to over 70 per cent in more industrialised regions.
He said Kenya and other African countries are investing in industrial parks, special economic zones and regional value chains to build a competitive manufacturing base.
The President also called for reforms in the global financial system, arguing that African countries face disproportionately high borrowing costs due to structural biases in credit rating systems.
He cited institutions such as the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, which have acknowledged that African nations often pay higher interest rates than advanced economies despite having comparable or lower debt levels.
“This is not merely a market outcome; it reflects a deeper structural imbalance,” he said, calling for a fairer and more responsive financial architecture that recognises both current performance and future potential.
On climate finance, the President warned that without reforms, developing countries will continue to face limited access to capital, undermining global efforts to address climate change.
Earlier, President Ruto said Kenya is strengthening collaboration with development partners in education, training and research, while expanding digital infrastructure through projects such as the Blue-Raman cable by Telecom Italia Sparkle, which is expected to enhance connectivity between Kenya, Europe and Asia.