Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates from the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, and the County Government of Mandera;
I extend my deepest gratitude to you, our dedicated project team whose unwavering commitment to the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project exemplifies the transformative power of regional cooperation.
Our recent mission to Addis Ababa, securing Ethiopian Government concurrence on these critical infrastructure projects, demonstrates that diplomatic excellence can indeed convert geographical proximity into economic prosperity.
The urgency of our mission is undeniable. Cross-border trade between Kenya and Ethiopia stands at only 284 million dollars annually despite our 861 kilometer shared border, the 8th longest on our continent.
This means we are harvesting only 10% of our potential compared to the 2.3 billion dollar trade volume existing between other member countries. This is a that disparity reflects systemic barriers we must collectively work very hard to dismantle.
This Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project will revolutionize our region through four strategic pillars. First, by upgrading the Isiolo-Mandera Road corridor which will establish the arterial connection our communities have awaited for decades.
Second, our fiber-optic backbone will transform digital connectivity from 23 percent coverage today to 89 percent by 2028, creating 15,000 digital economy jobs and adding 340 million dollars to regional GDP.
Third, our One-Stop Border Posts will reduce cargo truck crossing times from 6.5 hours to under 45 minutes, cutting transport costs by 32%.
Fourth and finally, our improved social infrastructure, including bridges across River Dawa connecting Rhamu and Suftu communities, which will reduce healthcare access distances by 50 percent, potentially saving thousands of lives annually.
IGAD remains a steadfast partner in this transformative endeavor. Economic projections validate our strategic vision: full implementation of our shared intentions will increase regional trade by 156 percent, create 47,000 direct jobs, and lift 230,000 citizens from poverty, yielding 4.2 dollars for every dollar invested over the next decade.
In addition, our IGAD Borderlands Initiative addresses fundamental challenges systematically. With 67% of pastoral conflicts stemming from resource competition, coordinated water and grazing management should transform conflict dynamics into cooperation frameworks.
Similarly, tuberculosis prevalence in border regions exceeds continental averages by 230%. Through coordinated treatment protocols, we project a 45% reduction by 2030.
As africans we have always said, “The African Renaissance is not a dream, it is a process. ” Today, this renaissance takes tangible form through strategic infrastructure investments that prioritize human dignity and regional integration.
Now, moving forward requires sustained collaboration among all all you our stakeholders. Thi1s Memorandum of Cooperation between Kenya Revenue Authority and Ethiopian Customs Commission needs urgent finalization.
I know that site visits and joint monitoring missions will ensure implementation excellence while maintaining accountability to the communities depending on our leadership.
Our very strategic Mandera Triangle, which has been historically marginalized, represents untapped opportunity that will flourish through strategic investment.
Our brothers and sisters in Rhamu, Suftu, Mandera, and Dollo Ado are not just distant beneficiaries, they are partners defining success and ensuring infrastructure translates into meaningful quality of life improvements.
The bridges we construct will endure beyond our tenure. Our young people,
our sons and daughters will cross them, benefiting from digital connectivity that knows no borders, healthcare systems that serve all communities equally, and economic opportunities that capture and build on our shared potential.
In conclusion, let us demonstrate that the Horn of Africa possesses both vision and capacity to transform challenges into opportunities, barriers into bridges, aspirations into achievements.
Let us proceed with the urgency our communities deserve, the excellence our vision demands, and the cooperation our shared future requires.
Our children crossing tomorrow’s bridges will inherit a region more connected, prosperous, and secure. This is our legacy, our responsibility, and our heritage for uniting our region.
Asante sana na tuendelee pamoja . Together, we advance to bring our people closer together.
Download the attached speech in Pdf.
ES Statement – Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project 19.06.2025
