Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya is embarking on a new economic strategy aimed at ending its reliance on exporting raw materials and transitioning to an industrialized, value-added economy. Speaking at the close of the Kenya Industrialization Forum 2025, President William Ruto declared that the time had come for the country to “flip” its economic model.
The plan, according to Ruto, is to leverage Kenya’s large population of educated, tech-savvy youth to drive manufacturing and product development. This will not only create jobs but also increase profitability by selling finished goods rather than unprocessed commodities. The President pointed out that food produced in Africa often becomes prohibitively expensive after being processed overseas.
Ruto called on Kenyans to lead by example by supporting locally produced goods, arguing that this would attract foreign investors who would be assured of local commitment. He revealed that $500 million had already been invested in infrastructure at industrial hubs in Vipingo, Dongo Kundu, and Naivasha to facilitate this transformation.
The President also urged local investors to bring their capital back to Kenya, noting that a significant amount of money is currently held in foreign banks, making it difficult to access for local investment.
Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro expressed his government’s readiness to collaborate with foreign investors, while Industrialisation Minister Lee Kinyanjui emphasised that Africa must rely on African solutions and expertise.
“Saving is the way to go,” said President Ruto. “We should build our own capacity to invest. Local solutions require local money.”
