Ethiopia's great dam paves way for talks between Africa, Europe

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam at Benishangul-Gumuz, on September 9, 2025. [PCS]

The activation in Ethiopia this week of Africa’s largest hydro-electric dam, reminds us of the continent’s unfinished business with the outside world. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) is among the foremost 20 hydro-electric plants in the world. With more than 5.15 gigawatts installed already, it can power Kenya’s electric energy twice over. 

President William Ruto, who was present at the event in the Nile Valley, says Kenya will buy some of this power. This is good and bad. It is good because Kenyans are assured of yet one more stable source of electric power supply. But it is also terrible because we have messed up our own efforts to build water and electric supply dams.  We have turned them into gravy trains, to feed our dishonest appetites. The story of Kimwarer, Arror and sundry dams into which billions of shillings were sunk, is already forgotten. Meanwhile, others have soldiered on. We have now queued up, ready to buy from them. That’s how we roll.