By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
23 December 2025 - Kenyan President William Ruto held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on Tuesday during a one-day working visit that highlighted the growing political, economic and security partnership between the two neighbouring countries.
Prime Minister Abiy received President Ruto at his office, describing the visit as a reflection of the “deep, historical and brotherly relationship” that binds Ethiopia and Kenya. In a statement shared on social media, Abiy said their discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties and reinforcing a shared commitment to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
“The visit demonstrated our firm stance on peace, dialogue and African-led solutions,” the Prime Minister said, underscoring the two leaders’ aligned positions on regional security at a time when the Horn continues to face political tensions and humanitarian pressures.
Beyond diplomacy and security, the talks took place against a backdrop of expanding economic cooperation between Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
Earlier this month, the two governments signed a simplified cross-border trade agreement aimed at easing the movement of goods and reducing barriers for small-scale and informal traders along their shared border.
The agreement, signed on 19 December in Addis Ababa, is expected to boost livelihoods in border communities and strengthen people-to-people ties.
Economic links are also deepening through private sector engagement. Kenyan financial institutions have been positioning themselves to enter the Ethiopian market as the country gradually opens key sectors of its economy.
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Kenya Commercial Bank has already confirmed plans to acquire a 40% stake in an Ethiopian lender, part of a wider push by Kenyan banks to expand their regional footprint.
However, the opportunities have come with challenges. A recent World Bank report pointed to operational and regulatory hurdles faced by Safaricom in Ethiopia, highlighting the complexities Kenyan firms encounter as they invest in the liberalising but still tightly regulated market.
President Ruto’s visit therefore comes at a pivotal moment, as both governments seek to balance ambition with pragmatism—strengthening trade and investment ties while addressing practical constraints and maintaining close political coordination.
As influential players in East Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia continue to see their partnership as central to regional integration and stability.
Tuesday’s engagement reaffirmed that cooperation, signalling a shared determination to work together on economic growth, security and diplomacy in the Horn of Africa.
