Beijing, April 25 – Kenyan President William Ruto pledged on Thursday to deepen ties with China during a high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as Nairobi seeks greater economic cooperation in the face of mounting global trade tensions fueled by U.S. tariffs.
The visit to Beijing – Ruto’s third since taking office in 2022 – comes at a time when the United States, under former President Donald Trump, has triggered a new wave of protectionism, prompting concerns among developing economies.
“Kenya seeks to learn from China’s remarkable journey of transformation in governance, economic development, and global leadership,” Ruto said during the five-day state visit. He thanked Xi for continued Chinese support, including millions of dollars for health, education, and disaster relief programs, as well as a planned new headquarters for Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two leaders oversaw the signing of multiple bilateral agreements spanning security, technology, infrastructure, and trade, including deals on rail development and the establishment of a new Kenyan consulate in Guangzhou.
Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening relations with Kenya and emphasized joint efforts to boost cooperation among developing nations.
“China attaches great importance to China-Kenya relations,” Xi told Ruto. “We will continue to work together to promote unity and cooperation across the Global South.”
Kenya is a key African partner in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, a sweeping infrastructure program that has seen China finance major projects across the continent, including ports, roads, and a railway linking the port city of Mombasa to Nairobi.
Ruto’s latest overture to China marks a significant pivot. Early in his presidency, the Kenyan leader courted Western nations. But with Washington’s engagement in Africa waning and tariffs rattling global markets, Ruto has embraced Beijing as a more reliable economic ally.
Speaking at Peking University on Wednesday, Ruto criticized the current global order as “broken, dysfunctional, and no longer fit for purpose,” warning that Trump’s trade war may deliver “a final death blow” to the multilateral system.
The tariffs have cast uncertainty over African economies. Kenya, whose top export destination is the U.S. and leading import source is China, finds itself navigating rising geopolitical rivalries that threaten trade flows and development financing.
Ruto, an evangelical Christian from humble beginnings, campaigned on promises to improve livelihoods and tackle debt. He now faces the challenge of balancing Kenya’s strategic interests amid an increasingly polarized global economy.
