Kenya's President, William Ruto, has amplified his call for a significant increase in the African Development Fund, emphasizing the transformative effect of Fund-backed projects within his nation. The Fund operates as the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group.
During a high-level meeting with Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, at State House in Nairobi on Thursday, President Ruto reiterated his advocacy. Adesina was in Kenya to evaluate preparations for the Bank Group’s 59th Annual Meetings scheduled from May 27 to 31. He also interacted with media leaders at the AllAfrica Media Leaders’ summit held in Nairobi.
In his speech at the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) meeting in Nairobi last month, President Ruto proposed a substantial $25-billion 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund which supports 37 low-income countries across Africa. The ongoing 16th replenishment—which raised a historic $8.9 billion in December 2022—is set to conclude next year.
“I will continue to make a strong case for the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund. Kenya has benefitted from resources made available to us by the Fund,” said President Ruto.
He mentioned the Last Mile Connectivity project which expanded from connecting 2.5 million households to the national electricity grid in 2013/14 to more than 10 million now. “Kenyans know it is a government project, but they need to know it was financed by the African Development Fund,” President Ruto noted. “It is making a difference in people’s lives, and we want to invest more to add momentum.”
The dialogue between both leaders also included increased investments in other vital sectors like agriculture, considered a top priority by the Kenyan government due to its potential for rapid transformation.
President Ruto underscored the necessity for clean water provision and commended the African Development Bank-funded Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation program for its positive impact on millions of people.
Adesina reiterated the Bank’s commitment to collaborate with the Kenyan government in de-risking lending to agriculture through instruments like partial risk guarantees and credit guarantees. He highlighted their successful implementation in several other countries.
“We have used partial credit guarantees to support the issuance of $500 million Panda bond by Egypt. We also used this tool to de-risk a EUR 350 million sustainable development loan for Benin. We did the same for Côte d’Ivoire to support the mobilisation of EUR 533 million in financing for strategic environmental, social and governance projects,” said the Bank Group president.
Adesina stated that Kenya has potential to replicate Ethiopia’s success after deploying the Bank’s flagship Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT). Ethiopia expanded the cultivated wheat area from less than 5,000 hectares in 2018 to about 2 million hectares in 2024. It has become self-sufficient and a net exporter of wheat in just about four years.
The two leaders emphasized the urgency of reforming global financial architecture to address challenges such as climate change that are particularly affecting Africa.
President Ruto, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning Professor Njuguna Ndung’u among others, highlighted Kenya’s recent adverse experiences caused by extreme weather patterns. “A year ago, we had drought that killed nearly 2.5 million livestock. Our economy lost $1.5 billion,” said Ruto. “Early this month, we experienced devastating floods that have claimed lives, swept away roads, schools and hospitals.”
Adesina expressed condolences to President Ruto and the people of Kenya following the deaths and destruction caused by these floods.
The Bank Group president explained that due to the significant climate finance gap in Africa, the African Development Fund established a Climate Action Window under its 16th replenishment cycle. “This is the only concessional finance institution to create a window dedicated to climate financing,” Adesina said. The initiative was established with an initial $429 million and is working to mobilise between $7 billion to $13 billion to support countries in times of emergency, climate adaptation and reduce the risk of debt distress due to climate investments.
He thanked President William Ruto and his government for their commitment to host the Bank Group’s 59th Annual Meetings from May 27 to 31 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Adesina was accompanied by the Bank’s Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management Professor Kevin Urama, Secretary General Professor Vincent Nmehielle, Executive Director for Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda Jonathan Nzayikorera and East Africa Regional Director General Nnenna Nwabufo among others.
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