Kenya Signs $950 Million Deals With China As Ruto And Jinping Announce Upgraded Ties

William Ruto (left) and Xi Jinping (right)

Source: Africa Publicity

The President of Kenya, William Ruto, has signed $950 million worth of agreements with China as Kenya and China announced that they have upgraded their bilateral relationship to a “new level.”

Mr. Ruto signed the deals on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, as part of a five-day state visit aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between Nairobi and Beijing.

The focuses on accelerating key development projects under Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), including major investments in manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.

In remarks during the signing of the deal,
Ruto underscored the longstanding cooperation between Kenya and China, highlighting the transformative impact of Chinese-funded infrastructure such as the Standard Gauge Railway, Lamu Port, and Nairobi Expressway.

According to him, “We have achieved many things together.”

He added in his speech in Beijing that “Kenya is a member of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the results are visible — from the Mombasa–Nairobi–Naivasha railway to the Mombasa oil terminal and numerous road projects. These are not only reshaping Kenya but enhancing regional connectivity across East Africa.”

The newly signed agreements channel over $950 million into priority sectors: $320 million for manufacturing, $430 million for agriculture, and $230 million for tourism.

Key deals include a $150 million investment with China Wu Yi for construction, $400 million in agricultural projects led by Zonken Group in Baringo, and a $230 million tourism initiative by Hunan Conference Exhibition Group, a first-time investor in Kenya.

President Ruto’s visit — his third to China since taking office — comes at a time of shifting global alliances and reflects Kenya’s commitment to strengthening ties with China amid global economic realignments.

“This visit speaks to the enduring friendship between our two countries and our shared vision for a prosperous future,” according to Mr. Ruto.

Meanwhile, China and Kenya on Thursday announced during a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Kenyan President William Ruto in Beijing that they had upgraded ties to a “new level” as they both pledged to create an “all-weather” China-Africa community.

In a joint China-Kenya statement, the two leaders explained that they were “committed to injecting more stability into the world with the certainty of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation”.