CS Kinyanjui: Kenya cannot develop while rejecting all funding options
Kenyans have been challenged to rethink their approach to funding national development, with Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, warning that resisting taxes, loans, or private partnerships will slow the country’s growth.
Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday night, November 19, 2025, Kinyanjui said much of the opposition stems from misunderstanding policies that have proven successful in other nations.
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According to the CS, expecting progress while rejecting all available funding options is unrealistic. He noted that roads, energy, and industrial infrastructure require significant resources, which cannot be covered solely by existing government revenues.
“I think the problem we have as Kenyans is sometimes what we don’t understand, we tend to object to it even when it has been proven to work elsewhere. We cannot say we don’t want more taxes, we don’t want loans from outside, and we don’t want to use the private sector to build infrastructure, because somehow it will cost money. Where will the money come from?” he asked.
Kinyanjui stressed that development requires a careful mix of revenue sources and innovative financing methods, including contributions from the private sector. While acknowledging that taxes should not be excessive, he said tools such as securitisation help fund projects without straining public finances.
“So there must be a clear balance between taxation, and you know, there are also sustainable levels; we cannot overtax people beyond a certain point. Securitisation becomes an important way of working off-balance sheet and being able to deliver infrastructure,” he explained.
The CS’s comments come amid a government drive to attract more private investment into key projects. He warned that outright opposition to loans, taxes, or partnerships would make it impossible to achieve the country’s ambitious development plans.
These remarks follow a similar explanation by President William Ruto, who defended the government’s decision to expand the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit highway through a Public-Private Partnership.
Speaking in Nakuru County on October 27, 2025, Ruto said innovative financing is essential for infrastructure growth, as relying solely on the national budget is no longer sustainable. The president noted that Kenya’s fiscal space is limited, making partnerships with private investors an important solution.
Kinyanjui’s call to action reinforces the message that Kenya’s growth depends on citizens' understanding and supporting a mix of funding mechanisms, including taxes, external loans, and private sector participation.
He said dismissing these options would only delay progress and make achieving development targets more difficult.
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