Addis Abeba, Sept 7 (HornCurrent) – Kenya’s President William Ruto is set to serve as the “chief guest” at the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which he hailed as “a symbol of Africa’s self-reliance and a milestone for Ethiopia.”
The Office of the State House Spokesperson confirmed his attendance in a statement issued Sunday, noting that Ruto and his delegation arrived in Addis Abeba earlier today. While Ethiopian officials have not yet publicly announced the exact date, unconfirmed reports indicate the GERD will be inaugurated on Tuesday, 9 September.
Highlighting the dam’s regional significance, the Kenyan presidency said the Ethiopia–Kenya power interconnector already supplies “clean, affordable electricity that strengthens energy security, stabilises supply during droughts, and supports industrial growth.” It added that GERD, together with the Kenya–Tanzania interconnector, is advancing East Africa’s integration through shared renewable energy.
According to the statement, Ruto’s visit will also include participation in the second Africa Climate Summit, where he is expected to launch a report titled From Nairobi to Addis Ababa: Africa’s Journey of Climate Action and Partnership. The report “reviews progress since the first Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, assesses current realities, and maps future pathways.”
Ruto is also expected to witness the signing of the Cooperation Framework for the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), designed to “coordinate financial and technical support, mobilise investment, and align with key priorities such as the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa, AfCFTA, and the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA).”
As chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), the Kenyan leader will “push for fair resource valuation, equitable carbon pricing, and financial reforms to ease debt and climate risks,” the statement added.
Beyond the summit, President Ruto will also address the Africa–CARICOM Summit on reparatory justice, debt sustainability, and transcontinental cooperation. He is further scheduled to hold bilateral meetings aimed at “strengthening ties, expanding trade, and advancing joint action on global challenges,” according to the Kenyan presidency.
