KENYA’S President William Samoei Ruto has awarded Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the country’s highest national honour, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (CGH). This accolade recognises his outstanding contribution to Africa’s economic development and his leadership at the helm of the AfDB.
Adesina becomes the 20th recipient of the prestigious honour, joining an exclusive group that includes global figures such as Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II, and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The CGH was first awarded in 1967 to Kenya’s founding father, President Jomo Kenyatta.
The award was presented at a colourful ceremony held at State House, Nairobi, where President Ruto commended Adesina for his vision, passion, and service to the continent.
‘You are a great leader,’ Ruto said. ‘You deserve this honour. Under your leadership, the African Development Bank has transformed lives across Africa.’
A longstanding partnership with Kenya
The recognition is deeply personal for both leaders. Their relationship dates back over two decades when Adesina lived and worked in Kenya for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and Ruto served as Kenya’s Minister for Agriculture.
Both leaders recalled their early collaboration on farmer subsidy programmes, a policy Ruto credits for Kenya’s surge in food production today. ‘Our maize production rose from 40 million to 70 million bags last year,’ Ruto noted. ‘Tea exports generated over KSh220bn ($1.7bn), the highest ever.’
AfDB’s transformative role in Kenya’s development
According to the Kenyan government’s citation, Adesina has transformed the AfDB into a globally recognised institution. Under his leadership, the Bank’s general capital increased from $93bn to $318bn, enabling it to deliver wide-ranging development initiatives across Africa.
Adesina highlighted Kenya’s central role in the Bank’s history and operations. Since the AfDB’s establishment in 1964, Kenya has benefited from 167 funded projects with total commitments of $7.8bn.
‘Since I became President of the Bank, we have financed 57 projects worth $4.44bn,’ Adesina said.
The current AfDB portfolio in Kenya includes 45 projects valued at $4.09bn, covering critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, water supply, and private sector development.
Key projects include:
- The Last-Mile Connectivity project, expanding national electricity access from 2.42 million households in 2014 to 9.7 million in 2024.
- The Thika-Nairobi Highway expansion, reducing travel time from three hours to just 30-45 minutes.
- The Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, backed by $634 million, including funding for the Thwake Multipurpose Water Dam, set to serve 1.3 million people in Kitui and Makueni counties and the Konza Techno-City.
The AfDB has also provided over $700 million in credit lines to more than eight Kenyan commercial banks to support private sector growth. Additionally, its contributions to Kenya’s national housing programme have supported the construction of 150,000 houses, creating 260,000 jobs for the country’s youth.
Tackling youth unemployment
Addressing Kenya’s youth unemployment crisis, Adesina cited last year’s youth protests as a wake-up call. He announced the AfDB’s ongoing commitment of $309 million towards eight projects focused on skills development and job creation.
In a major new initiative, Adesina confirmed plans for the establishment of a Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank of Kenya. The standalone institution will provide dedicated financing and technical assistance to youth-owned businesses.
‘It will be 100 percent dedicated to empowering youth with equity and debt financing,’ Adesina said, noting the proposal is already being prepared for AfDB Board approval.
A humble acceptance
In his acceptance speech, Adesina expressed his gratitude to the Kenyan government and people.
‘This is an honour I will cherish for life,’ he said. ‘Kenya holds a special place in my heart. I accept this recognition with great humility.’
Adesina was accompanied by his wife, Grace Yemisi Adesina, along with senior AfDB officials including Dr Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, and Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery.
Kenya’s conferment of the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart on Adesina underscores the country’s recognition of the African Development Bank’s transformative role in its development. It also highlights the enduring partnership between Kenya and Adesina, whose leadership has left an indelible mark on the country’s economic progress.
