Opposition leader Raila Odinga has said unless African countries strictly promote accountability, then democracy in the world's poorest continent would be hard to achieved.
He said it is high time natives of African pressure leaders to focus at uplifting the livelihoods of the people in Africa.
"Countries that have adopted accountable and democratic governance systems have made strides on the social and economic front," he said on Friday while delivering a lecture at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House in London.
The lecture was about the Importance of Democracy in Africa with specific focus on Kenya.
"These countries are reaping the democracy dividend that ensures sound management of public resources and political stability through regular, credible elections and peaceful and predictable transfers of power."
He spoke at a time when Kenya is preparing to hold a general election in August 2017.
The ODM leader is expected to take a fourth stab at the presidency during the polls.
He has twice, in 2007 and 2013 claimed that his victory during elections was stolen.
"These gains created a prolonged period of stability that allowed a new wave of investment," Mr Odinga said.
"However, these gains are threatened by absence of sustained momentum for deepening democracy in Africa."