The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is reinforcing its long-standing partnership with Kenya, committing to a future of sustained economic growth despite global headwinds.
This renewed commitment was the central theme of a high-level meeting between AfDB’s Regional Director, Alex Mubiru, and a team led by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, Hon. John Mbadi Ng’ongo, held on Tuesday this week in Nairobi, Kenya.
The meeting served as a moment to reflect on a six-decade partnership and to chart a course for a resilient future.
A Legacy of Transformative Impact
Since 1964, the AfDB has financed 167 transformative operations in Kenya, totalling US$7.8 billion. This extensive collaboration has created a legacy that goes far beyond financial figures.
According to Mubiru, each of these projects “carries a human story,” representing new opportunities for traders, farmers, and children who have benefited from infrastructure like new trade corridors, plus access to clean water and electricity, among other services.
Mubiru revealed that the bank’s current active portfolio in Kenya stands at US$4.09 billion across 40 projects, highlighting the ongoing scale of its investment.
These investments are designed to have a direct impact on people’s lives, supporting sectors that are crucial for sustainable growth. They include:
Infrastructure: Building new corridors and transport networks to facilitate trade and connect communities.
Agriculture: Enabling farmers to reach wider markets and increase productivity.
Energy: Expanding access to electricity to power homes, businesses, and schools.
Looking Forward at a Path to Resilience
The meeting also addressed a key paradox: Kenya’s economy is projected to grow by over 5% in 2025, even as it faces significant fiscal pressures.
Both Mubiru and CS Mbadi underscored that the answer to this challenge lies in resilience, sustained macro-fiscal reforms, and targeted social investments. Mubiru noted that the AfDB’s commitment thus extends to supporting Kenya’s youth, who are seen as the key to safeguarding the nation’s future.
“On behalf of the Bank’s new leadership, I renewed our commitment to Kenya’s aspirations and to its youth, who carry tomorrow in their hands,” Mubiru said, adding, “I left reminded that development cannot be measured by disbursements alone. Its truest measure is found in opportunities widened, dignity restored, and futures safeguarded.”
The discussion reaffirmed a critical principle: true development cannot be measured solely by the amount of money disbursed.
The meeting solidified the shared belief that, with continued collaboration, Kenya’s economic potential remains strong and its future is bright.