Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called for accelerated adoption of technology and stronger public-private partnerships to drive Africa’s socio-economic transformation, reiterating the role of innovation in building sustainable industries across the continent.
Speaking on Friday at the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII) Forum in Nairobi, he highlighted the need for technology to address pressing challenges while boosting industrial growth.
“The next 40 years will not be entirely defined by globalization because that happened 40 years ago. It is now behind us. The coming years will be defined by drivers including focus on people-centred transformation, investment in technology and public-private partnerships,” he said.
Kindiki stressed that African countries must embrace solutions that harness technology for sustainability.
“We must adopt technologies that help us find solutions to today’s challenges and create a more sustainable world. Technological advancement must be realized across the board, including in the energy sector,” he added.
The Deputy President noted that Africa continues to lag in its transition to cleaner energy, despite enormous potential.
Currently, the continent’s renewable energy capacity stands at 56 gigawatts, far below the 300 gigawatts required to meet the demands of industrial and manufacturing growth.
“To realize this potential, African governments must work hand in hand with the private sector to harness key sectors, including energy and technology,” said Kindiki.
“Public sector driven reforms alone are not going to be tenable in the future. We must tap into the private sector’s ideas and capital in a bid to blend effort to push the world forward.”
Kenya, the DP noted, is leading the way in renewable energy adoption, with 93 percent of its electricity generated from geothermal, wind, hydro, and solar sources.
“This places Kenya among the world’s leaders in clean energy. For investors seeking to build low-carbon manufacturing platforms, Kenya offers a compelling proposition,” he said.
The AGII Forum, which brings together government, investors, and industry stakeholders, aims to translate ideas into bankable opportunities, facilitating investments across clean energy, sustainable industries, and green value chains.
At the forum, Kindiki launched several initiatives to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.
These include the Institutional Clean Cooking Investment Sector Pack, Kenya’s National Cooking Transition Strategy, and the Burn Manufacturing Electric Cookstove, all aimed at improving clean cooking access while supporting green investments.
“Nearly 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, and close to one billion people lack access to clean cooking solutions. In Kenya, we are now deliberately repositioning clean cooking—not as a social or philanthropic intervention—but as a strategic green investment opportunity,” he said.
The Deputy President concluded by underscoring the critical role of public-private partnerships in Africa’s green industrial future, urging governments, investors, and innovators to collaborate in building a technologically advanced, sustainable, and people-centred continent.
The forum drew participants from across Africa and beyond, reflecting a growing commitment to integrating renewable energy, digital innovation, and sustainable industrial practices into the continent’s development agenda.