Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called for easier cross-border trade and stronger economic cooperation between Kenya and Ethiopia.
Speaking as the chief guest during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret, Abiy said closer ties should translate into tangible benefits for farmers, businesses and ordinary citizens in both countries.
“Our farmers and producers must trade more easily across our borders. Let more of our people visit each other’s countries, discover our cultures and learn together. More families must benefit from our friendship,” the Prime Minister said at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county.
Abiy said the two neighbouring countries must remove barriers that hinder producers from accessing markets across their shared borders. He also called for greater movement of people to deepen commercial and cultural exchanges.
His speech focused on economic integration, with an emphasis on stronger ties in trade, investment, transport infrastructure and regional development.
Abiy said the two countries should move beyond their geographical proximity and historical connections to build a partnership anchored in shared economic interests.
“Geography made us neighbours. History made us brothers. Our choices must make us partners in shared prosperity,” he said.
The Ethiopian leader described the relationship as one in which the two countries could compete in some areas while cooperating to achieve common development goals.
“We race as rivals [in athletics], but build as partners. In Ethiopia, we call this spirit Medemer, meaning synergy,” he said.
The remarks come as Kenya and Ethiopia seek to expand commercial links and improve regional connectivity, including through transport infrastructure designed to facilitate the movement of goods between the Horn of Africa and East African markets.
The two countries, alongside South Sudan, are involved in the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor.
The project is intended to provide alternative transport routes and strengthen trade links between the participating countries.
The corridor offers Ethiopia, a landlocked country, access to Kenya’s Lamu port and the wider regional transport network. It also creates opportunities for Kenya to expand its role as a trade and logistics gateway.
Official figures from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs show that bilateral trade between Kenya and Ethiopia rose from $74.9 million in 2019 to $211 million in 2024, with the balance of trade favouring Kenya.
Abiy also cited the growing presence of Kenyan businesses in Ethiopia as evidence that the partnership was already delivering practical benefits.
“Today, Safaricom connects millions of Ethiopians, and M-Pesa helps people send money and make payments,” he said.
He said the expansion of commercial activity should be matched by stronger cooperation to ensure more citizens benefit from the relationship between the two countries.
Beyond trade, Abiy encouraged Kenyans and Ethiopians to travel more frequently between their countries, discover each other’s cultures and learn together.
He said closer people-to-people connections would reinforce economic cooperation.
He also reaffirmed Ethiopia’s support for Kenya’s development, linking the partnership to the two countries’ shared history of defending their sovereignty and dignity.
“Ethiopia stands with Kenya as we work to make freedom meaningful for all our people,” he said.
Abiy drew parallels between Kenya’s struggle for independence and Ethiopia’s resistance to foreign occupation. He recalled the 1952 arrest of Jomo Kenyatta and other Kenyan leaders, as well as Ethiopia’s defence of its homeland in 1896.
He said these experiences reflected a shared determination to protect national dignity and shape the future.
