Egypt has put forward a $100 million financing mechanism aimed at supporting dam construction and water infrastructure development in Kenya, marking a renewed diplomatic engagement focused on regional water cooperation within the Nile Basin.
The proposal was concluded on 16 February 2026 during official meetings in Nairobi involving Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Water Resources Hani Sewilam, and Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi. The funding would be directed towards projects designed to enhance water availability in Kenya, including groundwater extraction, rainwater harvesting systems, and multi-purpose dams such as the proposed Koru Dam and developments within the Sio-Malakisi River basin. According to the discussions, implementation would be conditional on compliance with international law and the protection of downstream water flows.
The initiative forms part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed between Egypt and Kenya in January 2025. In parallel, both governments are exploring wider economic cooperation through a “Blue Economy” framework. Plans under consideration include a joint maritime shipping line linking Egyptian Red Sea ports with Kenyan Indian Ocean hubs such as Mombasa and Lamu, intended to support trade and investment across sectors including agriculture, pharmaceuticals and information technology.
During the talks, Abdelatty called for a return to “inclusive cooperation” and “consensus-based decision-making” within the Nile Basin Initiative. Egyptian officials framed the financing offer as a means of encouraging collaborative development rather than unilateral actions in shared river systems.
Further technical discussions are expected at the eighth session of the Egypt–Kenya Joint Commission, scheduled to take place in Cairo later this year, where detailed plans for water projects and associated infrastructure are set to be reviewed.
