Kenya is ready to sign a power purchase agreement with Ethiopia to uptake reserve power from the 6,450 megawatts Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), President William Ruto has said.
Ruto said with Kenya’s peak demand exceeding 2,300MW and continuing to rise, this additional capacity would strengthen the country’s reserve margin and reduce supply deficits.
He pointed out that, beyond affordability, the clean and stable supply would enhance grid reliability, particularly during droughts when hydropower output is volatile.
“Reliability is especially critical for special economic zones, industrial parks, ICT hubs, and agro-processing facilities, all of which require consistent and affordable power to drive Kenya’s development agenda,” he said.
Ruto made the remarks during the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in the Benshangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia alongside Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other regional leaders.
Others present included Presidents Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia), Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan), and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
President Ruto commended Ethiopia for the $5 billion mega project, finances that were mobilised domestically and without debt.
He drew a parallel with Kenya’s pursuit of raising local resources to finance affordable housing projects aimed at eradicating slums.