NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto’s growing overtures to China are drawing sharp criticism in Washington, where U.S. lawmakers are questioning Kenya’s loyalty as a designated non-NATO ally amid mounting geopolitical rivalry between Beijing and the West.
In a rare public rebuke, members of the powerful U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday expressed concern over Ruto’s recent remarks in Beijing, where he declared Kenya and China “co-architects” of a new global order—words the senators interpreted as signaling a shift in allegiance.
“That’s not just alignment with China—it’s allegiance,” said committee chair Senator James Risch. “Relying on leaders who so openly embrace Beijing is a mistake. It’s time to reassess our relationship with Kenya and others deepening ties with China.”
The senators were meeting under the theme “East Africa and the Horn: At a Turning Point or Breaking Point,” a hearing meant to evaluate the future of U.S. foreign policy in a region increasingly caught in the crossfire of global superpower competition.
Their critique follows President Ruto’s high-profile state visit to China last month, during which he called the current global system “broken, dysfunctional, and no longer fit for purpose.”
Speaking at Peking University, Ruto positioned Kenya as a bridge between East and West, declaring: “Kenya and China are not merely trade partners; we are co-architects of a new world order—one that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable.”
Peking University Lecture, Beijing, China. x.com/i/broadcasts/1…
That message struck a nerve in Washington, where lawmakers fear China is gaining ground in Africa by leveraging trade, infrastructure deals, and soft power.
The U.S. designated Kenya a major non-NATO ally in 2023—one of the highest levels of strategic partnership short of full military alliance.
But the Senate committee now suggests the U.S. must reduce its reliance on individual leaders and instead strengthen institutions and people-driven diplomacy.
“Washington should maintain working relations with regional leaders, but over-reliance renders the US vulnerable,” said Joshua Meservey, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute. “Ruto was recently in Beijing declaring his commitment to reshaping the global order—a core goal of the Chinese government in its efforts to supplant the US globally.”
President Ruto’s closeness to China raises alarm in Washington“It’s time to reassess our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China,” Senator James Risch
Michelle Gavin, Senior Fellow for Africa Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, echoed the concern.
She said the U.S. had made strides in security and commercial cooperation with Kenya but warned of missed opportunities in aligning with the Kenyan public’s priorities, especially the fight against corruption.
“The result is a weakened Kenyan president diligently seeking support from China and the Gulf,” Gavin noted.
As the Senate hearing was underway, Ruto met at State House with a Chinese delegation led by Fuzhou Benny Tea Industries Chairman Zhang Chaobin, with discussions centered on expanding Kenyan tea exports to China.
Analysts say the symbolism is hard to ignore—and so is the broader pattern.
Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has in recent months strengthened ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
And in 2023, Ruto hosted Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, calling Iran a “critical strategic partner”—despite U.S. intelligence linking Iran to terror plots on Kenyan soil.
Our plan to boost agricultural production, expand markets and increase farmers’ earnings has been progressing well. We are not only harvesting more maize and producing more tea, coffee and sugar, but the prices of these products have improved significantly.As a follow-up to the
The committee also flagged Uganda as another “fragile partner,” citing concerns over governance and human rights abuses.
While the U.S. maintains significant military and economic interests in East Africa—particularly in counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia—Senators warned that strategic partnerships must now be rooted in values and institutions, not just personal rapport.
“Institutions are stabilising forces and will outlast even the longest-serving rulers,” Risch said. “We need to stop mistaking access for allegiance.”
