Doanh Chau, President of AI medicine company MED21, has pushed back on President William Ruto's investment pitch at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, questioning whether international speeches can translate into real increases in investment in Kenya.
In remarks shared on September 25, Chau acknowledged the strength of Ruto's message to the international audience but argued that investors ultimately judge countries by the conditions they encounter once they move past conference speeches and consider committing capital. He raised specific concerns about the reliability of electricity, road infrastructure, contract enforcement, procurement transparency, and confidence in institutions.
"Yes, the message is powerful. Powerful enough to tell the international audience: Kenya is ready; please invest more. But investors eventually leave the conference hall and start asking less glamorous questions: Is the electricity reliable?" Chau said. "Africa does not lack speeches. Africa does not even lack capital looking for opportunities. It lacks enough bankable projects, reliable institutions and accountable execution to turn that capital into development."
Chau argued that the continent's core challenge isn't a shortage of capital, but a lack of sufficiently bankable projects and dependable institutions capable of turning available investment into tangible development.
His comments came as Ruto used his UNGA appearances to promote Africa as an investment destination and call for greater capital flows into the continent, and have since sparked mixed reactions online. Some defended the President, arguing he deserves time to deliver on his commitments. Ronny Mbani, one such commenter, wrote: "If he builds shiny things, you complain. If he delivers a shiny speech, you complain again. What exactly do you want, bwana? Give the man time to deliver."
Others sided with Chau's critique. Edmond Boto wrote: "We elected an orator who can eloquently tell stories and question why Africa does not have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, yet when confronted with the reality that corruption is one of Africa's biggest challenges, he retreats into empty rhetoric instead of addressing the problem."
What Ruto Told the UN General Assembly
In his address to the 81st UNGA, Ruto called for greater investment and economic cooperation, tying global development to stronger multilateral institutions. He argued that the international system needs to do more to advance the economic and social wellbeing of people worldwide, and said peace and prosperity are interconnected — warning that conflicts disrupt supply chains and drive up the cost of food, fuel, and other essentials.
Ruto also argued that the current global order contains structural inequalities limiting some countries' ability to benefit equally from international systems, calling for reforms to multilateral institutions to make them more representative and responsive to developing countries' interests. He linked stronger international cooperation to unlocking economic opportunities and improving living standards more broadly.
Ruto's investment appeal comes as Kenya continues seeking financing for development, infrastructure, technology, and other key sectors of its economy.
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