Kenya's President Ruto in Addis Ababa for the opening Ethiopia's Nile dam

ADDIS ABABA - William Ruto, the president of Kenya, is set to commission the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) built along the Blue Nile, despite the endless complaints by Egypt and Sudan, which have demanded a formal agreement for refilling.

The two countries argue that the dam reduces the flow of the Nile River, thus impacting the livelihoods downstream, which depend on the water levels of the Nile River, whose source is Lake Victoria.

A statement published by Kenya's State House termed the inauguration of the Grand Renaissance Dam as “a symbol of Africa’s self-reliance and a milestone for Ethiopia.” The attendance was confirmed by Hussein Mohamed, the State House spokesman.

Although Ruto arrived on Sunday, unconfirmed reports indicate that the project shall be opened on Tuesday, 9th September 2025. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will be the host.

Highlighting the regional significance of GERD, 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 the project, together with the Kenya–Tanzania interconnector, advances East Africa’s integration through shared renewable energy, Addis Ababa Standard reports.

According to the statement, Ruto’s visit to Addis Abeba will also include participation in the second Africa Climate Summit, where he will 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,” the press release noted.

Ethiopia and Egypt have clashed over the project, With Cairo choosing Somalia as the battleground, with their diplomatic fallout witnessed when Egypt volunteered to dispatch its troops to Mogadishu for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

With the Egyptian troops set to join AUSSOM after re-visit by commanders last week, the Ethiopian team insists the presence of Cairo would significantly hinder progress made in Al-shabaab war. Addis Ababa believes Cairo could establish military installations in Somalia as a strategy to frustrate operationalisation of GERD.

GAROWE ONLINE