What's wrong with the National Infrastructure Fund?

Sheilah Olang, a development economist, during an interview on Spice FM on March 18, 2026. [Screengrab]

When the government established the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), it pitched the initiative as Kenya's ticket to first-world status in record time, mirroring the economic rise of Asia's four tigers: Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Up to Sh5 trillion is expected to flow into the fund over the next decade from private investors, the sale of state corporations, and investment returns. These resources are intended to finance commercially viable national infrastructure projects, including roads, rail, aviation, ports, and energy systems.