Addis Ababa, October 20, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has drawn parallels between the agricultural potential of Ethiopia’s highlands and Kenya’s fertile farming areas, emphasizing the shared mission of farmers in both countries to feed their people and build better lives from the land.
Addressing Kenya’s 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret on Tuesday, Abiy described the area’s highlands as a major agricultural asset for Kenya, noting that Ethiopia also has similar highland areas whose land sustains farming communities and livelihoods.
“Eldoret’s highlands are Kenya’s breadbasket. In Ethiopia, we know these highlands too. Our farmers share the same purpose: to feed our people and build a better life from the land,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks connected the agricultural landscapes of the two neighboring countries through the role of farmers in sustaining communities and supporting national development. His comparison underscored the importance of land and agriculture to the livelihoods of people in both countries.
Abiy’s message also placed agriculture within the broader scope of Ethiopia-Kenya cooperation, stressing the need to turn longstanding relations into practical benefits for their citizens.
He called for farmers and producers to trade more easily across the border, pointing to the importance of improving opportunities for agricultural products to reach markets in both countries.
“Our farmers and producers must be able to trade more easily across our borders,” he said.
Easier cross-border trade could help producers access wider markets and strengthen commercial connections between the two economies. The call also linked the shared agricultural purpose identified by Abiy to the wider goal of ensuring that closer bilateral relations benefit ordinary people.
The speech presented farming not only as a source of food and livelihoods but also as an area in which Ethiopia and Kenya can deepen practical cooperation. By drawing attention to the similarities between their highlands and the mission of their farmers, Abiy emphasized a common foundation for stronger agricultural and economic ties.
He also encouraged people in both countries to visit one another, discover their cultures and learn together, stressing that more families should benefit from the friendship between Ethiopia and Kenya.