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President William Ruto has awarded Africa Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina Kenya’s highest honour for his role in financing key projects over the past decade.
Adesina received the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart during a state investiture ceremony at State House, Nairobi.
His tenure at AfDB, headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, saw the bank fund projects such as the last mile connectivity initiative, Thwake Dam, Thika Superhighway, Nairobi’s outering road improvement, Menengai geothermal project, and the Lake Turkana wind project.
“I was so driven and so much wanted things to change positively for Kenyans,” said Adesina, recalling his engagement with farmers and agricultural researchers during his years in Kenya.
Adesina, a Nigerian economist, lived in Kenya for nine years while working with the Rockefeller Foundation and later the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
During that time, Ruto served as agriculture minister in the Mwai Kibaki administration.
“I was very concerned then, about the millions of poor farmers in Kenya who were begging for food and who had no access to seeds or fertilisers. I wanted to see a national programme to provide subsidised food and fertilisers to farmers across Kenya,” noted Adesina.
“Several donors were unhappy with me at the time, including my own office, the Rockefeller Foundation,” he added.
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According to Adesina, his collaboration with Ruto led to the Kilimo Plus initiative, which provided farmers with subsidised inputs, and the Kilimo Biashara plan, which improved access to financial lending for agricultural development.
Referencing the June 2024 Gen Z protests over economic frustrations, Adesina revealed that AfDB plans to fund the establishment of Kenya’s Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank.
“This will be a standalone financial institution with one hundred per cent dedication to providing technical assistance, debt and equity financing for youth businesses in Kenya,” said Adesina.
Ruto described Adesina as a visionary leader who influenced his passion for agriculture.
“On behalf of the government and the great people of Kenya, congratulations. You are a great leader. I wish you the very best as you take up your other assignments into the future,” said Ruto.
Adesina, who served as Nigeria’s agriculture minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was elected AfDB president in 2015 and completed two five-year terms.
Five candidates have been cleared to contest for the AfDB presidency in May.
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