David Ndii Biography
David Ndii is a prominent Kenyan economist, columnist, academician, author and the Managing Director of Africa Economics. He is one of Africa’s best known economists and an outspoken anti-corruption crusader.
He has a Rhodes scholarship at Oxford University and an Eisenhower Fellow. He has also worked as an economic adviser to various governments and oppositions in Kenya, including the NARC administration, the ODM party, and the current President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp.
David Ndii Early Life and Education
David Ndii was born in Kiambu, the capital of the Kiambu County, Kenya. His mother is a retired civil servant. He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Nairobi.
Ndii is among the few Kenyans who boast of an Oxford education where he undertook his master’s and doctorate degrees in economics on a Rhodes Scholarship.
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David Ndii Career
David Ndii, a Kenyan economist, columnist, academic, author, and Managing Director of Africa Economics, is among Africa’s most renowned economists and a vocal advocate against corruption.
Ndii has held various significant roles throughout his career. He served as a technical advisor on Public Finance to the Committee of Experts and worked as the Chief Economist for Equity Bank. Additionally, he has worked as an economist with the World Bank and taught at the University of Nairobi. On the federal level, Ndii has also served as an economic advisor to the president of Rwanda. Currently, he contributes to Saturday Nation with his column.
Following Ruto’s presidency victory, Ndii was appointed as the chairperson of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) in President Ruto’s State House. Additionally, he holds the position of chairman of the board at Zimele Asset Management Company Limited and serves as the managing director of African Economics.
Ndii has a rich history of serving as an economic advisor, including advising the NARC administration on the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS), which is credited with the post-2003 recovery of the Kenyan economy. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in cofounding Kenya’s first independent policy think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs, alongside Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o.
Ndii is known for his bottom-up economic model that aims to promote inclusive growth and development. He has also been a vocal critic of some of the economic policies and borrowing practices of previous Kenyan governments. He has been a vocal critic of the Building Bridges Initiative, a signature project of President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s handshake, expressing opposition to the initiative.
Alongside other activists, he played a pivotal role in petitioning the High Court of Kenya in the landmark case of David Ndii & Others v. Attorney General & Others. This case was argued all the way to the Supreme Court of Kenya, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Building Bridges Initiative.
David Ndii Personal Life, Wife and Children
David Ndii is happily married to Mwende Gatabaki, who is the daughter of Peter Gatabaki, the senior chief of Thakwa who is also a former member of the Githunguri MP. The couple has an 11-year-old daughter.
David Ndii Net Worth
David Ndii’s net worth is approximately $3 million. He has invested in Zimele Asset Management Limited, which provides solutions for savings, investing, and retirement planning. He is the chairman of its board of directors. He also owns a palatial mansion in Kiambu County with a library and a bar.
