President William Ruto has conveyed warm wishes to the People’s Republic of China on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. In his message to the Chinese community in Kenya and around the world, the head of state highlighted China’s vital role in Kenya’s development.
In a statement released on Monday, Ruto expressed goodwill on behalf of the Government and people of Kenya, describing China as “an important development partner of Kenya and a strong advocate for the Global South and multilateralism.”
“Kenya recognizes and appreciates the contributions of the Chinese business community in Kenya, a key stakeholder in implementing the outcomes of my successful State Visit to China in 2025 and in advancing the vision of Building a Closer Community with a Shared Future for the New Era,” he stated.
During the visit, agreements were solidified in critical sectors such as infrastructure, trade facilitation, manufacturing, and green energy—areas essential to Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Both countries agreed to align high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Kenya’s domestic development strategy, focusing on sustainable and people-centered projects.
The visit emphasized the need for sustained political coordination, with Nairobi and Beijing committing to enhancing head-of-state diplomacy, strengthening institutional linkages across central and local governments, legislative bodies, and political parties, and expanding governance experience-sharing.
On economic and trade cooperation, the two governments pledged to utilize mechanisms like the Joint Committee on Trade, Investment, Economic and Technical Cooperation to better structure bilateral engagement. China encouraged leading enterprises to increase investments in Kenya to support industrial upgrading, value-chain development, and competitive production capacity.
Beijing also committed to boosting imports of Kenyan products and exploring a framework agreement on economic partnership or a potential free trade agreement, aimed at providing long-term, predictable support for trade and investment.
Infrastructure connectivity remains central to the partnership, with both sides dedicated to advancing integrated development of infrastructure and industries, institutionalizing cooperation between railway authorities, and enhancing sectoral exchanges. The two countries also discussed launching direct flights between Nairobi and Beijing, which is expected to enhance tourism, business mobility, and people-to-people ties.
During the visit, China recognized Kenya’s status as a regional financial hub in East Africa and expressed support for Chinese financial institutions looking to establish branches in Kenya.
Healthcare cooperation was another focus, with China expressing readiness to support collaboration between Chinese enterprises and Kenyan partners to develop local healthcare industries, particularly to address medicine and vaccine shortages. Kenya committed to facilitating market access for Chinese medicines.
With 2026 designated as the Year of People-to-People Exchange under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Ruto expressed Kenya’s eagerness for continued collaboration with the Chinese private sector. He stressed the significance of initiatives that enhance people-to-people connections, including tourism, cultural exchange, education, and sports activities.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and Principal Secretary for Culture Ummi Bashir also extended their wishes for the Chinese New Year.
“Wishing our Chinese community in Kenya a joyful and prosperous Lunar New Year. May the year ahead bring you health, harmony, and abundant opportunities. Thank you for your contributions to our nation’s enterprise and friendship,” Miano stated.
Bashir noted that China remains one of Kenya’s most valuable bilateral partners and closest allies.
“The Kenya-China friendship is founded on mutual respect, cultural exchange, growing tourism exchange, mutual commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties and deepening cooperation for sustainable development and shared prosperity,” she added.
