Kenya and the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia are set to construct two bridges to connect underserved communities between the two countries.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, June 5, 2025, the two countries announced that bridges will be constructed across the River Dawa (Rhamu and Suftu) to facilitate access to healthcare, education, and markets for the local communities.

 This is following a bilateral engagement between the two countries led by Ethiopian Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide and the State Department for Investment and Assets Management Principal Secretary (PS) Cyrell Odede Wagunda, convened under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

“The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Kenya committed to support the construction of two bridges across River Dawa (Rhamu and Suftu) as a passage of hope that will not only carry vehicles but also convey the aspiration of underserved communities to access heialthcare, education, and markets,” read the statement in part.

Speaking during the opening, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu stated that the two nations will benefit from the ongoing infrastructure investment, unlocking the Ethiopia-Kenya ties.

“ Both the Ethiopia and Kenya governments are cognisant of the trade potential between our two nations and stand to jointly benefit from the ongoing infrastructure investment that will finally link Isiolo to Mandera, further unlocking the infinite potential of Ethiopia-Kenya trade ties and cementing our historical security partnership stretching back to our mutual defence pact established in 1963,” he stated.

Other resolutions

Furthermore, the two countries agreed to operationalise the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Rhamu and the Trade Facilitation Centre at Suftu to enhance seamless trade between Ethiopia and Kenya by reducing border-crossing times, lowering transport costs, and making regional goods more competitive in international markets. 

Additionally, both states committed to complete the cross-border fibre optic connectivity, improve cross-border digital services, and enhance access to digital jobs, and emerging technology. 

This comes a month after Kenya and Ethiopia agreed to collaborate on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The two parties, represented by senior government officials from the respective governments, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2025 to fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area between Kenya and Ethiopia, adopting a simplified trade regime.

Speaking in Mombasa, the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, said that the government wants to fast-track trade at the border following continued challenges within the border communities living in Moyale, Kenya.

Kinyanjui said there have been significant challenges, thus the need for the agreement, with the hope of ensuring that communities living within the border can trade freely.

“We are emphasising that within the bigger scope of things, Kenya and Ethiopia will be looking for ways in which we can implement free trade so that goods produced here or in Ethiopia can come, and people can work anywhere in the two countries, not forgetting tourism in Mombasa and many other things that will boost our economy,” he said.

The CS assured the public that the government will continue to engage with neighbouring countries to ensure a favourable trading environment for the people.