Alice Kilonzo–Zulu

“In a field often dominated by abstract theories, Kilonzo-Zulu stands out for her grounded, practical approach to economics. She is one of the go-to experts for understanding what national budget figures actually mean for the forty-seven county governments.”

“Alice Kilonzo-Zulu brings a rare clarity to the complex web of intergovernmental fiscal relations. Her work provides a critical bridge between technical public finance and the practical realities of county administration.”

“An economist's role is to demystify complex numbers and present the clear choices before the public and policymakers. We are translators between data and public welfare, and we must never lose sight of the human impact behind every percentage point.”

“We are dangerously comfortable with stacking debt upon debt. We must ask ourselves: are we borrowing to consume today, or are we borrowing to invest in a productive capacity that will pay for this debt tomorrow? The latter is the only sustainable path.”

“The success of devolution hinges not on how much money is sent to the counties, but on how effectively that money is translated into tangible services for the mwananchi (citizen) at the grassroots level. It's about accountability for results, not just accounting for funds.”

“We leverage on the East African region which is a big market, to attract more customers. We also leverage digital platforms to reach out to them and serve existing customers better.”

“The contribution of SMEs to African economies calls for a more robust risk mitigation strategy instead of avoiding SMEs.”

“We must leverage this digital era to gain more customers and to advance our agenda. We are happy to know that Rwanda has a very strong digital agenda, and Rwandese banks are responding positively to this.”

“Banks should look to deliver their products through digital channels. At Ecobank Rwanda, we are keen on leveraging mobile technologies. We are looking into delivering the bank to the people through the mobile devices they use every day.”

“Closing some of our branches and rather investing in this digital strategy directly facilitates one of the fundamental enablers of our economy—financial and economic inclusion. With this, Ecobank will be able to serve and reach out to more customers, including the unbanked.”