NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto’s inaugural State Visit to China has flipped the script on Kenya’s global partnerships, securing a sweeping Sh137 billion in investment deals and elevating diplomatic ties with Beijing to a new strategic height.
Following high-level bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping, Kenya not only upgraded its partnership with China to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the New Era—but also walked away with 24 signed agreements that span everything from transport and education to digital infrastructure and agriculture.
Let’s break it down.
Roads, Rails, and Regional Power Moves
If Kenya is the gateway to East Africa, then China just handed it the keys to the highway.
As part of the deal, China reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba, while also funding the dualing of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway, the Kiambu-Northern Bypass, the Eldoret Bypass, and Nithi Bridge construction.
All these moves fall squarely under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which President Xi has positioned as a cornerstone of his global infrastructure diplomacy.
For Kenya, it means deeper integration with regional logistics networks—and more opportunities for intra-African trade.
And no, it’s not all on the public dime. Private sector investment via PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships) will bankroll a significant chunk of these infrastructure developments, setting the tone for smarter, faster implementation.
Going Digital and Greener
The future is fiber—and electric.
Ruto and Xi agreed to boost cooperation on Kenya’s National Digital Superhighway, which includes an ambitious expansion of the national fiber optic network.
Expect smoother connections and faster speeds as the country leans into its digital transformation.
Also signed: an agreement to roll out Nairobi’s Intelligent Transport System—designed to reduce traffic chaos, eliminate human interfaces, and digitize penalty payments.
Press Release :Kenya secures major deals in trade, infrastructure, and Strategic partnership during president Ruto’s State Visit to China
China also pledged support for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through grants to upgrade hospital infrastructure, while encouraging private sector investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Among the biggest headlines: the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development, which could lead to a comprehensive trade deal with expanded access for Kenyan exports—think tea, avocado, macadamia, and coffee.
On the sidelines of the Kenya-China Private Sector Roundtable, President Ruto witnessed the signing of Sh137 billion worth of investment agreements covering manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, and more.
That’s more than just ink on paper: the projects are projected to generate 28,000+ jobs.
Highlights include:
- A Special Economic Zone in Kilifi (5,000 jobs),
- New factories in Machakos, Murang’a, and Mombasa, and
- Agricultural projects in Kajiado and Baringo, focused on aloe, poultry, and vineyards (10,500 jobs).
Ruto’s next stop: Fujian Province, where he’s expected to meet with Chinese e-mobility and tea industry giants to pitch Kenya’s manufacturing and export potential.
