President William Ruto has revealed that Kenya is considering signing a new power purchase agreement with Ethiopia to strengthen the country’s electricity supply.
Speaking on Tuesday, September 9, during the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ruto described the mega project as a model for Africa’s energy future and confirmed that talks are underway with Addis Ababa to increase power imports.
“I have had a conversation with the Prime Minister, and we will have an extended conversation on whatever reserve power is available from this dam. We are ready to sign a power purchase agreement so we can take some of the power from this dam,” Ruto said.
Currently, Ethiopia supplies 265 megawatts of electricity to Kenya daily under a 25-year deal signed in 2022, transmitted via a 1,045-kilometre High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector linking Wolayta Sodo to Suswa. The President now wants to double imports to stabilise the grid and expand access.
Kenya also imports power from Uganda and Tanzania under regional energy cooperation agreements. However, concerns remain after the government lost Ksh4.5 billion in arbitration following the termination of a cross-border powerline contract awarded to a Spanish firm.
Ruto emphasised that the Ethiopia deal would ensure Kenya taps into reliable, clean energy while advancing regional integration.
