NAIROBI, Kenya – As Kenya grapples with the fallout from a U.S. aid freeze that has led to more than 35,000 job losses and the closure of 150 health clinics, China has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country’s development.
Speaking in Nairobi at an event hosted by the Chinese Embassy, Ambassador Guo Haiyan emphasized that global development should not be dictated by a single power but shaped collectively by all nations.
She underscored the importance of China-Africa relations, pointing out that together, the two regions account for 2.8 billion people—forming a significant economic bloc.
“We will remain steadfast in mutual respect and equality, supporting each other in pursuing development paths suited to respective national conditions,” Haiyan said during the launch of Xinhua’s Lens of Xinhua: Images of the Century photo exhibition.
Her remarks come amid the economic strain caused by the U.S. decision to suspend funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for 90 days, affecting key sectors in Kenya.
The freeze has disrupted HIV treatment for 72,000 patients who relied on donor funds for life-saving medication.
The Kenyan government has taken a pragmatic stance on the situation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, speaking in Mombasa, urged Kenyans to shift their focus from dependency on foreign aid to self-reliance.
“I saw some people crying that Trump has removed funding. Why are you crying? It is not your government; it is not your country,” Kenyatta said. “This is a wake-up call for us to ask, ‘What are we going to do to help ourselves?’”
China, positioning itself as a reliable partner, has reaffirmed its commitment to Kenya and Africa at large.
Ambassador Haiyan stated that China’s vision for a “community with a shared future” is rooted in equality, mutual trust, and economic cooperation.
She criticized what she described as efforts by some countries to disrupt industrial supply chains and undermine globalization.
During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled ten partnership initiatives aimed at strengthening Africa’s economic resilience.
At the G20 Summit, he further outlined eight global development initiatives, reinforcing China’s stance on international cooperation.
Yuan Bingzhong, vice president of Xinhua News Agency, highlighted Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) as a testament to China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The railway, which links Mombasa and Nairobi, has been credited with boosting trade and infrastructure development.
“As President Ruto said, the more we connect, the more we associate and the more we share,” Bingzhong said.
The Xinhua exhibition showcased 105 photographs chronicling China’s 75-year journey of modernization, emphasizing economic transformation and social progress.
According to Bingzhong, China’s development model could serve as an inspiration for self-sustaining growth in developing nations.
With U.S. funding uncertainty casting a shadow over Kenya’s economy, China’s growing involvement presents an alternative path—one that promises investment, infrastructure, and strengthened trade ties in the face of shifting global alliances.
