President William Ruto has announced that Kenya is ready to sign a power purchase agreement with Ethiopia following the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Taking to X on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Ruto praised the project as a bold affirmation of Africa’s capacity to marshal its own resources and deliver transformative infrastructure.

“For Kenya, it offers immense promise. We are ready to sign a power purchase agreement with Ethiopia to off-take surplus electricity to power our industries, ICT hubs, manufacturing, and agro-processing, while strengthening competitiveness, creating jobs, and driving sustainable growth,” he said.

The GERD, located in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, is Africa’s largest hydropower project, with an installed capacity of 6,450 megawatts. Built at a cost of Ksh647.50 billion, the dam was financed entirely by the Ethiopian people without foreign loans, making it a continental symbol of self-reliance and progress.

Earlier during the inauguration, Ruto explained that Kenya’s energy demand has already exceeded 2,300 megawatts and continues to rise, driven by rapid industrial growth and population expansion. He said surplus electricity from the GERD will not only address demand but also enhance grid stability, especially during drought seasons when hydropower generation within Kenya falls.

Ruto urges self-reliance

The president stressed that reliable and affordable energy is vital for the country’s economic agenda. He noted that steady supply is particularly crucial for industrial parks, special economic zones, and ICT hubs, which require uninterrupted power to maintain competitiveness.

During his address, Ruto said the GERD should serve as an inspiration for other African nations to invest in transformative projects using local resources. He drew comparisons with Kenya’s efforts to finance affordable housing initiatives domestically, highlighting the value of self-reliance in national development.

“The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is not only a feat of engineering ambition but also a bold affirmation of Africa’s capacity to shape its own destiny, marshal its resources, and deliver transformative infrastructure in pursuit of prosperity,” he said.

While celebrating the achievement, Ruto also acknowledged the delicate matter of Nile water use. He reaffirmed Kenya’s support for fair and equitable sharing of resources and encouraged Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan to continue their trilateral negotiations in good faith. Dialogue, he said, remains the surest way to reach a lasting settlement that protects the prosperity and stability of all nations along the Nile.