Addis Ababa, October 20, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has cited Ethiopia’s homegrown Medemer philosophy in describing how Ethiopia and Kenya can bring their respective strengths together for a common purpose, pointing to cross-border electricity, transport connectivity and business partnerships as practical expressions of the approach.
Addressing Kenya’s Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret on Tuesday, Abiy explained Medemer as synergy—the combination of strengths in pursuit of shared objectives—before illustrating the principle through existing cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
“We rise as rivals. We build as partners. In Ethiopia, we call this spirit Medemer,” he said. “It means synergy, bringing our strengths together for a common purpose.”
Abiy pointed to the electricity transmission link connecting Ethiopia and Kenya as a concrete example of the partnership. Operational since 2022, the link has enabled cross-border power transmission, supporting electricity access and energy supply for homes and industry.
He also cited the transport connection between Mombasa and Hawassa and the role of businesses in strengthening bilateral ties, presenting infrastructure and commercial engagement as complementary dimensions of cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister further referred to Safaricom’s operations in Ethiopia and the use of M-Pesa for money transfers and payments, illustrating how private-sector and digital financial services are adding another dimension to economic links between the neighboring countries.
Abiy’s remarks connected the principle of Medemer with practical cooperation across energy, transport, telecommunications and business. He emphasized bringing complementary strengths together to serve a common purpose.
He also called for farmers and producers to trade more easily across the border and encouraged greater travel and cultural exchange between the two countries, stressing that more families should benefit from their friendship.
The speech placed Ethiopia–Kenya cooperation within a wider message of regional partnership, in which established infrastructure, commercial connections and people-to-people relations can be built upon to expand opportunities on both sides of the border.