Fact-Checker: Former premier sounded correct on Africa’s infrastructure demands

AU Envoy Raila Odinga (left) with US ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter (right) at his Capital Hill office in Nairobi . They were joined by Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development CS James Macharia. [Maxwell Agwanda, Standard]

While opening the first edition of the Afro Champions Infrastructure Boma held in Nairobi last week, Kenya’s former Prime Minister and African Union (AU) special envoy for infrastructure Raila Odinga, advocated for the establishment of a local infrastructure fund to finance the continent’s infrastructure projects.

“We need to think together in terms of fundraising and project implementation,” he said. “It is estimated that our annual infrastructure gap, that is the difference between what we have and what we need, stands at $170 billion (Sh17 trillion),” he said.