African nations face disproportionately high borrowing costs due to low credit ratings, which are often based on subjective assessments by global rating agencies. Only two countries, Botswana and Mauritius, hold investment-grade ratings, leaving the rest of the continent with limited access to affordable credit. For example, Kenya spends more than 60% of its revenue servicing debts, severely constraining its ability to invest in critical development areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare.