Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening African-led financial institutions to unlock investment, accelerate industrialisation and reduce reliance on external financing as the continent seeks to bridge its widening development funding gap.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday during the opening of the 26th Annual General Meeting of the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki said Africa’s economic transformation depends on stronger regional financial institutions capable of de-risking investments and mobilising affordable capital.
Kindiki said Kenya supports efforts to build a new African financial architecture anchored on regional cooperation, innovation and investor confidence.
“Africa is progressively moving away from dependence on externally driven development models towards greater self-reliance, stronger regional integration and African-led financing solutions. Institutions such as ATIDI are central to this transformation because sustainable development requires confidence, and investment thrives where risk is effectively managed,” he said.
He noted that Kenya has benefited significantly from ATIDI’s risk mitigation programmes, with the institution facilitating over USD 960 million in trade and investment over the past two years and supporting projects worth about USD 7 billion in sectors including energy, transport, agriculture and manufacturing. Flagship investments such as the Lake Turkana Wind Power, Kipeto Wind Power and Menengai Geothermal projects have expanded access to clean energy while boosting economic growth.
The Deputy President said the government’s industrialisation agenda is centred on transforming agriculture through value addition, supported by reliable renewable energy, adequate water for irrigation and improved transport infrastructure.
He added that Kenya is strengthening policy certainty and expanding public-private partnerships to create a stable investment environment.
“Public resources alone cannot finance our development ambitions. We are creating long-term policy certainty and mobilising both public and private capital to finance transformative infrastructure projects,” Kindiki said.
ATIDI Chief Executive Officer Manuel Moses said the institution had mobilised over USD 93 billion in trade and investment since its establishment in 2001 by helping investors manage political and commercial risks.
He said ATIDI’s guarantee products have unlocked investments in renewable energy, cross-border trade and small and medium enterprises, while reducing the cost of capital across African markets.
“Our business is building confidence. When investors are confident, businesses grow, jobs are created and economies prosper,” Moses said, adding that a recent USD 125 million investment by the African Development Bank Group could leverage more than USD 1.25 billion annually in new investments.
Moses said ATIDI recorded strong financial performance in 2025, with total exposure rising to USD 9.2 billion, profit increasing by 20 per cent to USD 71.4 million and total assets exceeding USD 1 billion. He noted that the institution had expanded its membership to 24 countries and continued developing innovative products to support renewable energy, SMEs and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Chairperson of the ATIDI Board Prof. Kelly Mua Kingsly said the institution’s greatest achievement over the past 25 years has been building investor confidence across Africa, describing confidence as the continent’s most valuable asset.
He said ATIDI had evolved into one of Africa’s leading multilateral financial institutions by combining global standards with a deep understanding of African markets and pledged that the organisation would continue innovating to meet emerging investment challenges.
“As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee, we must renew our commitment to strengthening investor confidence because confidence inspires investment, investment creates opportunity and opportunity transforms lives,” he said.
The meeting, marking ATIDI’s Silver Jubilee, brought together finance ministers, development partners, shareholders and policymakers to discuss expanding Africa’s financial architecture and mobilising greater investment for sustainable economic transformation.
By Zipporah Odionyi and Mike Njaria
