Nairobi: 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 stated that Africa’s economic transformation depends on stronger regional financial institutions capable of de-risking investments and mobilising affordable capital.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kindiki expressed that 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.
Kindiki highlighted that Kenya has significantly benefited from ATIDI’s risk mitigation programmes, which have facilitated over USD 960 million in trade and investment over the past two years and supported 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 further stated that 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.
ATIDI Chief Executive Officer Manuel Moses reported that 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 highlighted that 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.
Moses also noted ATIDI’s strong financial performance in 2025, with total exposure rising to USD 9.2 billion, profit increasing by 20 percent to USD 71.4 million, and total assets exceeding USD 1 billion. He emphasized that the institution had expanded its membership to 24 countries and continued developing innovative products to support renewable energy, SMEs, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Chairperson of the ATIDI Board, Prof. Kelly Mua Kingsly, remarked on the institution’s greatest achievement over the past 25 years in building investor confidence across Africa, describing confidence as the continent’s most valuable asset. He assured that ATIDI would continue innovating to meet emerging investment challenges.
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.
