Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the Infra for Africa Forum and the Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on August 5, 2026. [DPCS]
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged African nations to adopt long-term development strategies that will transform the continent into a globally competitive economy, saying Africa already possesses the resources, talent and potential needed to achieve First World status.
Speaking during the Infra for Africa Forum and the Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he represented President William Ruto, Kindiki said the continent's greatest challenge is not a lack of resources but the absence of sustained policy implementation and confidence in its own capabilities.
"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 noted that Africa is richly endowed with natural resources, a youthful population and expanding economic opportunities, arguing that these advantages should position the continent among the world's leading economies if supported by sound governance and long-term planning.
A key issue raised during the forum was the need for governments to move beyond short-term political and economic interests.
Kindiki emphasized that national development programmes should be protected from disruptions caused by changes in political leadership, warning that inconsistent policies discourage investors and delay critical infrastructure projects.
"The biggest threat to Africa's development today is policy disruption, which is an unintended consequence of democracy," he said. "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."