President William Ruto with the Chinese President Xi in Beijing, China, on September 3, 2024. Photo/PCS
By Newsflash Team
President William Ruto is preparing for an eight-day visit to China, a diplomatic mission that comes as his previously strong ties with the United States appear to be weakening.
Reliable sources told Newsflash that the President will depart shortly after the Easter holidays, with the main aim of strengthening Kenya’s relations with the world’s second-largest economy.
This high-stakes trip is expected to solidify bilateral cooperation, especially in support of two transformative infrastructure projects: the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Malaba and the launch of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Mau Summit four-lane highway. These projects could become crucial political assets for Ruto, particularly in Western Kenya, ahead of the 2027 elections.
During his stay in Beijing, Ruto will engage in high-level meetings with Chinese leaders, focusing on the future of Kenya-China ties across various sectors. Insiders view the visit as a clear shift in foreign policy, with Kenya increasingly leaning toward China after an initial pivot to the West following Ruto’s 2022 election victory.
Initially, Ruto embraced the West—especially the United States—signaling a departure from his predecessor’s China-centric approach. However, the U.S. has shown limited interest in financing large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, unlike China. A source familiar with the President’s itinerary told Newsflash, “The visit will aim to deepen bilateral ties and explore fresh areas of collaboration between the two countries.”
The discussions will cover infrastructure, trade, and investment, aligning with Kenya’s long-term economic transformation plan. Although details of the itinerary remain confidential, the visit comes amid renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China, especially under Donald Trump’s resurgence on the global stage. Trump recently announced new tariffs—including a 10 per cent levy on Kenyan exports—indicating that only cooperative partners would see relief.
Infrastructure and strategic financing at the heart of talks
At the center of Ruto’s China mission are two major projects: the SGR extension from Naivasha to Malaba and the Rironi–Mau Summit highway. These projects could redefine Kenya’s transport landscape and solidify Ruto’s legacy in regional development. The railway, expected to cost around Sh700 billion, will be financed primarily by China, with the Kenyan government expected to contribute 30 per cent of the total cost.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has already laid the groundwork through discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Lan Fo’an. These talks also involved China Exim Bank vice president Yang Dongning, pointing to an impending deal. A consortium of Chinese firms is slated to provide 40 per cent of the funding for the 475km railway extension.
China Exim Bank previously funded the first phases of the SGR, facilitating the Mombasa-to-Suswa line under the Belt and Road Initiative. It also supported construction of Nairobi’s Southern and Western bypasses and the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.
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Mbadi said the talks covered ways to improve trade and attract sustainable infrastructure investments, adding that both sides had “explored potential areas of future collaboration.” This reflects a growing consensus that China is not only willing but financially capable of supporting Kenya’s long-term infrastructure ambitions.
Meanwhile, China’s ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, emphasized that President Xi Jinping’s administration remains committed to strengthening bilateral ties. She said both sides would increase high-level engagements and exchange governance ideas, stressing China’s role as a stabilizing partner in uncertain global times.
“China will strive to provide certainty in an uncertain world,” Guo remarked, reiterating her country’s intention to support Kenya in its quest for modernized infrastructure and sustainable development.
Kenya aligns with China’s development model and FOCAC agenda
Onyango K’Onyango, a China-Africa relations scholar, said the planned visit shows that Ruto’s government now appreciates the critical role China plays in Kenya’s development journey. He highlighted China’s consistent backing in areas such as infrastructure development, trade, digital technology, human capital, and foreign direct investment.
Kenya is also looking to deepen cooperation in education, culture, and climate change, as well as secure China’s support in its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. Adhere emphasized that “seven out of ten potential investors in Kenya are from China,” underlining Beijing’s dominance in the country’s economic landscape.
The upcoming visit builds on momentum from Ruto’s recent engagements with China. He attended the 2024 Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in September, following his earlier visit in October 2023 for the third Belt and Road Initiative summit. In both instances, Kenya committed to a 10-point plan with China to strengthen cooperation across strategic sectors.
FOCAC 2024 saw President Xi announce a comprehensive plan to roll out 30 infrastructure projects across Africa, support 1,000 community initiatives, and dispatch 2,000 medical professionals and 500 agricultural experts. China also committed to training 1,000 African leaders, 6,000 military officers, and 1,000 police officers.
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Beijing is preparing to implement 500 social welfare projects and 30 green energy initiatives as part of a larger Sh6.7 trillion funding package for Africa over the next three years. Kenya is among the countries eyeing a significant share of this fund.
Adhere said that this renewed engagement presents an opportunity to turn past commitments into tangible outcomes. “Kenya and China can now build on the gains of FOCAC 2023 to implement their joint modernization roadmap,” he stated.
As traditional allies like the U.S. retreat by slashing aid and introducing punitive trade policies, China is emerging as a dependable ally, offering both capital and technology to fuel Kenya’s growth trajectory.
