Inside Ruto’s Addis Ababa visit as he jets out today

President William Ruto has departed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the second Africa Climate Summit and the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

The summit brings together African Heads of State and Government to push forward the continent’s climate action and green growth agenda.

President Ruto will unveil the report “From Nairobi to Addis Ababa: Africa’s Journey of Climate Action and Partnership”, which reviews progress since the 2023 Nairobi Declaration and charts future climate pathways.

While in Addis, the Kenyan leader will witness the signing of a Cooperation Framework for the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII).

The agreement will unite African governments, financiers, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and private sector players to accelerate renewable energy projects and green industrial investments.

The framework will provide financial and technical support, mobilise investments, and align with initiatives such as the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa and the Joint Project Preparation Facility.

According to State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed, this will fast-track bankable projects across the continent.

As chair of the Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), President Ruto is expected to push for fair resource valuation, affordable climate financing, debt sustainability, and stronger African positions in global climate negotiations.

He will also attend the Africa-CARICOM dialogue, focusing on debt management, energy transition, and joint responses to global challenges.

Separately, President Ruto will be the chief guest at the official launch of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), described as a symbol of Africa’s self-reliance and a milestone for Ethiopia.

For Kenya, the Ethiopia-Kenya power interconnector already delivers clean, affordable electricity that strengthens energy security, stabilises supply during droughts, and supports industrial growth.

Together with the Kenya-Tanzania interconnector, these links are expected to boost power trade, improve grid stability, and advance East Africa’s integration through shared renewable energy.

Kenya’s peak power demand has now surpassed 2,392 megawatts, and the government says additional capacity is critical to powering special economic zones, ICT hubs, industrial parks, and agro-processing industries.

According to State House, the partnership supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda by expanding renewable energy, boosting competitiveness, empowering communities, and deepening regional integration.