President William Ruto met African Development Bank (AfDB) President Sidi Ould Tah on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
The two leaders reviewed ongoing joint programmes and projects in the pipeline to support Kenya’s development agenda.
The government spokesperson said they noted that Thwake Dam is 90 per cent complete. They also discussed water and sanitation schemes, roads and the continued expansion of Konza Technopolis. The government says these projects will support growth and improve livelihoods.
“H.E. President William Ruto met African Development Bank President Sidi Tah on the sidelines of the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They reviewed ongoing joint programmes and projects in the pipeline to support Kenya’s development agenda,” the government spokesperson said.
“The leaders expressed satisfaction with the 90% progress at Thwake Dam. Discussions also covered water and sanitation projects in small towns, road infrastructure development, and the continued expansion of Konza Technopolis.”
But the meeting has raised fresh questions at home. Many Kenyans believe the talks could lead to more borrowing at a time when the country already faces heavy debt pressure.
Kenya’s public debt stands at around 65.7 per cent of GDP in 2026. That is lower than 72 per cent in 2023, helped by a stronger shilling. However, the figure has risen sharply from 42.2 per cent in 2013.
According to the AfDB, Kenya’s external debt is over Ksh5.5 trillion, while domestic debt stands at over Ksh6 trillion. Multilateral lenders, including the AfDB, account for more than half of external loans.
Fitch Ratings expects debt service costs to reach Ksh683 billion this financial year, or 3.7 per cent of GDP. The agency also forecasts a fiscal deficit of 5.8 per cent, above the government’s 4.7 per cent target. These figures show the strain on public finances.
