On 23-24 April 2026, the JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi Nairobi, Kenya will play host to over 1,000 high level guests and participants comprised of heads of state, ministers, institutional investors, development finance institutions, infrastructure operators and global industry leaders at the Africa We Build Summit 2026 hosted by Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in partnership with the Government of Kenya.
The focus of the high-level discussions on financing, execution and enabling policy frameworks will be on how to move infrastructure from priority to implementation across Africa.
Some of the confirmed speakers include President William Ruto of Kenya (who will deliver the keynote), Samaila Zubair, President and CEO of AFC, Aliko Dangote, H.E.Lerato Dorothy Mataboge and many more drawn from across finance, industry, and policy.
President Ruto’s choice as keynote speaker is instructive and deserving of further consideration as an African leader who is matching words to action.
Flagging off infrastructure projects across road and railway networks in pursuit of his vision of a modern, well-connected Kenya in October 2025, he said – No economy can flourish without world-class infrastructure…These projects will not only boost domestic trade and productivity but also place Kenya at the centre of the African Continental Free Trade Area dream.”
His words call attention to a challenge and opportunity. Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey. While the continent faces a substantial infrastructure financing gap, it also possesses immense untapped potential.
From energy and transport to water and digital connectivity, infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and regional integration.
However, to unlock the full benefits of this transformation, the continent must move beyond rhetoric and develop innovative partnerships, private sector engagement, and long-term planning grounded in data and sustainability.
This was why the March 9, 2026 signing of the National Infrastructure Fund Bill, 2026, into law, by President William Ruto, has been described as a pivotal shift in how the country will finance and manage its most ambitious infrastructure projects.
Specifically, the Fund aims to mobilise nearly Ksh 5 trillion over the next decade to shift infrastructure financing from a debt-driven model to a sustainable, investment-led approach. In addition, it seeks to mobilise resources for key projects across sectors, including transport, energy, water, irrigation and digital connectivity. The Fund will also support development of highways, railways, ports, agribusiness infrastructure and other strategic national projects. Unlike previous models that largely relied on borrowing to finance critical infrastructure development, the NIF is designed to attract investment from both the public and private sectors.
Furthermore, it aims to enhance Kenya’s capacity to structure and execute large-scale infrastructure projects while prioritizing commercially viable investments that generate sustainable returns.
According to its framework, the Fund will channel KSh 400 billion annually into four key catalytic sectors: transport, energy, water and irrigation, and agribusiness infrastructure. These sectors are prioritized because they drive productivity, support industrialization, enhance food security, boost trade competitiveness, and help stabilize the cost of living.
Unveiling of the NIF Governing Council recently, Ruto appointed Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi as chair of the Council, tasked with steering the country toward investment-led infrastructure financing.
In a notice, Ruto also appointed the Attorney General, Dorcus Odour, and the Central Bank of Kenya Governor, Kamau Thugge, as Statutory Members. Professor Benedict Oramah, KCB CEO Paul Russo, Faith Boinett, and Richard Etemesi, to the board as independent members.
“It is notified that His Excellency the President has appointed members to the Governing Council of the National Infrastructure Fund. This presidential action follows the coming into force of the National Infrastructure Fund Act, 2026 (Act No. 4 of 2026) pursuant to Article 116 of the Constitution,” the notice said in part.
Oramah is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Export Development for Africa (FEDA) and the African Medical Center of Excellence (AMCE) and the immediate former President and Chairperson of the Board of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
The body will govern the Fund as a Limited Liability Company, designed to operate with commercial independence and to be insulated from political interference.
Indeed, at a time when global capital is constrained, what Kenya and other African countries require are bold, homegrown financing solutions that unlock domestic capital, crowd in private investment, and redefine infrastructure as a bankable asset class capable of driving long-term prosperity.
These would become case studies for other countries as they confront their infrastructural challenges.
Africa’s future hinges not on potential, but on execution. For the continent, the need to unlock opportunities for infrastructure transformation is no longer a matter of ambition but a matter of urgency.
Roads, railways, energy, and digital connectivity are not just development goals; they are lifelines for economic independence, social equity, and regional integration. With visionary leadership, bold financing, and a commitment to regional cooperation, Africa can shift from being infrastructure-deficient to infrastructure-driven.
A recent report by the Africa Finance Corporation pointed out that Africa is entering a new cycle of infrastructure development, which must be more integrated, investor-driven, and future-focused.
“The continent is entering a third wave of port privatization – characterized by new investment partners and increased hinterland trade facilitation. To be competitive and serve as efficient regional gateways, ports must make better use of technology and enhance the maintenance and operations of common marine infrastructure.
“Railway investment is picking up across the continent, with new models that prioritise private capital, anchor industries, and regional trade corridors, the report added.
Capital allocations on the continent remain heavily concentrated in short-term assets, mainly government securities and money market. That is why, rather than viewing Africa’s infrastructure gap as a constraint, it should be seen as an opportunity. The continent needs to scale – urgently and decisively.
Policy reforms, including viable Public-Private Partnership frameworks and corridor-based tolling models, are needed to attract investment in road rehabilitation and rural connectivity. Equally, the continent needs the right structures for regulatory reforms to make investment in infrastructure attractive.
As Samaila Zubairu has said in the past “The problem is not absence of capital, but fragmentation and risk aversion. We need to build aggregation platforms that syndicate institutional investors, commercial banks, and sovereign funds to mobilise at scale.”
From the foregoing, beyond funding, there is an urgent need for stronger policy coordination across African countries. Too often, infrastructure projects are derailed by bureaucracy, political instability, or lack of continuity in leadership. Governments must align national development plans with regional infrastructure blueprints. Strong institutions, transparent procurement processes, and a focus on governance are essential to build investor confidence.
Africa has the resources, talent, and growing political will to transform its infrastructure landscape. What is needed now is bold action: to implement policies that attract private capital, to think regionally rather than nationally, and to embed transparency and innovation at every level.
This is what President Ruto is doing in Kenya. Beyond Kenya, the broader implication of the NIF for Africa is profound. If effectively implemented, such models could catalyse a continental shift where pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors are strategically aligned with national development priorities. This alignment has the potential to deepen local capital markets, reduce vulnerability to external shocks, and create a virtuous cycle in which infrastructure investments generate returns that are reinvested into further development.
Ultimately, the success of initiatives like the NIF will depend on strong governance, policy consistency, and unwavering accountability. If these pillars hold, Kenya could well set a compelling precedent for the rest of Africa, demonstrating that with the right frameworks, the continent can finance its own future, accelerate inclusive growth, and take firm ownership of its development destiny.
The Africa We Build Summit will hold from 23-24 April 2026 in Nairobi Kwnya. Click here to register