Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on African countries to pursue bold, long-term development plans that will transform the continent into a first-world region, saying Africa has the resources, talent and capacity needed to achieve that goal.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Infra for Africa Forum and Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Kindiki said African nations must believe in their own potential and work together to unlock sustainable economic growth through strategic investments and policy stability.
“Africa needs to build confidence in itself. As Africans, we must learn to have confidence in our continent and in our capability to do what others have been able to do,” Kindiki said.
He urged governments across the continent to shift their focus from short-term political, social and economic interests and instead put in place policies and projects that can deliver lasting benefits over several decades.
“We must ensure that the frameworks for projects, programmes and policies we have in place today will still be in place in 30, 40, 50 years ahead so that we take Africa into first world status because it is possible to do it as already done by other countries,” he said.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki attends the Infra for Africa Forum 2026 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on August 5, 2026.PHOTO/DPCS.
Kindiki said Kenya is already taking steps to finance major infrastructure projects through new funding models aimed at attracting greater private sector participation.
He pointed to the country’s newly established Infrastructure Fund, saying it is designed to mobilise resources by selling part of the government’s stakes in state-owned entities and using the proceeds to attract additional investment.
“In Kenya, we have just put in place an Infrastructure Fund where we are mobilizing resources from the stock market by selling part of the stakes in government-owned entities and using the capital to crowd investment by the private sector,” he said.
The Deputy President outlined several factors he believes are necessary to accelerate Africa’s development, including political stability, predictable policies, technological advancement, improved governance and stronger partnerships between governments and the private sector.
He also stressed that development should remain people-centred, saying infrastructure projects must improve the lives of ordinary citizens and ensure that no group is left behind.
“We need to have the people with us. We must carry the people along; women, young people, rural and urban poor. It is not enough to build roads, railways, seaports, harbours and gas pipelines. It is important to ensure the people travel the development journey with us,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President further warned that frequent policy changes following transitions in government could slow the continent’s development agenda if not properly managed.
“The biggest threat to Africa’s development today is policy disruption which is an unintended consequence of democracy. The movement from one administration to another is a good thing but we must find ways of insulating our development agenda from democratic transitions so that we can have continuity in development,” he said.
Kindiki also called for closer regional cooperation, saying African countries should work together to mobilise investment, reduce financing costs and support the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects.
“We need to have innovative ways of mobilizing resources both nationally and regionally to be able to reduce investor risk and lower cost of capital and enable implementation of capital-intensive projects,” he said.
The forum was attended by Tanzania President Samia Suluhu, who delivered the keynote address, former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and other regional leaders and development partners.