Kenya and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan engaged in extensive talks in Nairobi to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors.
The meeting, held at Mudavadi’s office, brought together the two senior officials to review progress under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework that binds the two nations and to identify new avenues for collaboration in pursuit of shared development goals.
Central to the discussions, according to Mudavadi, was Kenya’s longstanding cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), through which Beijing has financed some of Kenya’s most transformative infrastructure projects. They include the Standard Gauge Railway, the Nairobi Expressway, Thika Road, the Nairobi bypasses, and the Lamu Port under the LAPSSET Corridor project—investments, he said, have reshaped the country’s connectivity and economic landscape.
Both sides indicated their readiness to move beyond traditional infrastructure projects. Mudavadi noted that discussions had expanded to include collaboration in trade and investment, healthcare, technology, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.
“Kenya and China continue to strengthen a longstanding partnership anchored in mutual respect, trust, and shared development goals,” Mudavadi stated, adding that the talks explored further ways to deepen and elevate bilateral relations under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.
A significant focus of the meeting was China’s recently introduced zero-tariff policy for Kenyan goods, a measure the PCS and the envoy agreed should be fully leveraged to accelerate economic growth and strengthen trade ties. Ambassador Guo urged Kenya to utilise the latest arrangement effectively to expedite what she termed the joint modernisation of both countries.
Mudavadi expressed Kenya’s readiness to engage, showing a willingness to deepen high-quality practical cooperation with China across various fields to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. He also praised China’s approach to global diplomacy, describing Beijing’s engagement on the world stage as providing valuable stability and certainty in an increasingly turbulent international environment.
In addition to bilateral matters, the meeting addressed broader geopolitical developments. Ambassador Guo briefed Mudavadi on the recent meeting among the heads of state of China, the United States, and Russia—a gathering that attracted significant international attention amid ongoing global tensions.
The Ambassador thanked Kenya for its continued support regarding the Taiwan question and other issues concerning China’s core interests. In response, Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the One-China principle, a position Nairobi has consistently maintained in its diplomatic engagements with Beijing.
The two sides underscored the warmth and depth of Kenya-China relations, which they noted have steadily grown since the two countries established diplomatic ties over six decades ago. From infrastructure financing and trade to scholarships, healthcare, and digital connectivity, China has become one of Kenya’s most significant development partners.
