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As the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja political protagonists haggle over the agenda and scope of their bipartisan talks, they must know that time is running out. Kenyans are experiencing one of the toughest economic periods since independence 60 years ago, such that any procrastination on the talks and looming threats of the return of mass protests are a recipe for monumental national crises.

Ceaseless squabbles between the two adversaries are not only adding fuel to the toxic and polarized political environment in the country, but also pose a great risk to economic growth and development. Only a political solution will rescue the millions of Kenyans shackled in the quagmire of poverty, high cost of living, unemployment and economic and social decline. After all, political and macroeconomic stability share the same bed.

This stark reality was amplified last week during a World Bank webinar titled ‘State of the Africa Region: Harnessing Natural Resources for a Sustainable Future’. The panelists were the Finance ministers of the three fastest growing economies in Africa – Nicolas Kazadi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Adama Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia’s Situmbeko Musokotwane. They were joined by the World Bank VicePresident for Eastern and Southern Africa Victoria Kwakwa and CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN Energy Damilola Ogunbiyi.

A remarkable candid discussion followed on how Africa’s economic regions can unite for energy security and sustainability. Coulibaly, citing ECOWAS cooperation on energy, said regional power trade will solve debilitating electricity blackouts negatively impacting economic development, industries and already financially fragile utilities.

As Africa faces face ongoing development challenges and the impacts of climate change, access to energy Is the key that will help unlock the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and better harness the continent’s vast natural resources to benefit millions of its impoverished people.

In a clear testimony on the intertwinement of political and macroeconomic stability as a precursor to economic growth, warring Kenyan politicians should know the window of opportunity for peace talks ominously face a shutdown. DRC, long beset by political instability and internal conflict, but now relatively stable, registered the highest economic growth in Africa in 2022 – 8.6 percent.

Finance minister Kazadi explained that the mining sector investment and exports and prudent tax management are the key drivers of the growth, also channeled to social development, including provision of free primary school education.

DRC is the world’s most important source of minerals used in technology, producing 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, a key component in the production of lithium-ion batteries that power phones, computers and electric vehicles. Electric vehicle sales are predicted to grow from 6.5 million in 2021 to 66 million in 2040.

With DRC now a full member of the East African Community, the bipartisan talks should also engage the East African Legislative Assembly to drive the regional integration and economic agenda. It is estimated that the DRC has $24 trillion worth of untapped mineral resources.Let the bipartisan sides set aside petty differences and dishonest, arrogant politics and embark on genuine, open discussions embracing the critical national issues threatening national and regional stability and development.

They must recognize that energy is at the heart of development that makes possible the investments, innovations, and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth, and shared prosperity for entire economies.