The government is in new efforts to strike fresh partnership projects with China. 

Revelation comes after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi arrived in Beijing yesterday on a three-day official visit to forge public private partnerships in executing projects.

Mudavadi’s tour is also focusing on opportunities in trade and security collaboration.

He is expected to follow up on discussions and agreements established between Kenya and China during the recent state visit by President William Ruto.

“I have safely arrived in China for a three-day official visit. This visit, extended at the invitation of Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, provides a valuable opportunity to follow up on discussions and agreements established between Kenya and China during the recent state visit led by President William Ruto,” Mudavadi, who is also the CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, stated.

He is accompanied by various Government officials, including Principal Secretary of the State Department for Parliamentary Affairs Aurelia Rono.

He is also expected to engage with senior Government representatives of China, with a focus on strengthening collaboration in trade, investment, and security.

Mudavadi’s visit comes in the wake of China’s significantly reduced lending to Africa. Throughout both the Covid-19 pandemic and much of 2023, there has been a slowdown in Chinese lending to Africa, and projections that this would continue into the future.

With the Ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC9) coming later this year, it is anticipated that fulfillment of pending financing commitments from FOCAC8 will drive up Chinese lending to African countries.

Relatedly, 2023 saw a spike in the number of African leadership visits to China following the pandemic-induced freeze.

New financing commitments for the Belt and Road Initiative announced at the October 2023 Belt and Road Forum provide a new Chinese funding avenue that African countries are likely to tap into.

Mudavadi will engage with high-ranking government representatives from the People’s Republic of China. The focus will be on strengthening collaboration in trade, investment, labour, and security, further enhancing the relationship between Kenya and China.

The government last month during celebrations in Beijing and Nairobi relations to mark the 60^th anniversary of China-Kenya diplomatic relations announced intentions to push for increased partnership between the two countries.

Mudavadi who spoke during the event  described the China-Kenya diplomatic relations as a culmination of many years of consistent, trusting, collaborative, and mutually beneficial partnership between Nairobi and Beijing.

After Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963, China became the fourth country to establish diplomatic relations with Kenya.

Diplomatic relations

“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two nations, our relationship has grown by leaps and bounds and I have no doubt that it will continue to advance through shared prosperity and mutual understanding,” said Mudavadi.

He applauded China for its transformative initiatives in Kenya and Africa whose socio-economic impacts have been far-reaching.

As one of the few countries with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, the highest form of Bilateral Relations, Kenya’s developmental landscape has benefited the most from China’s investment.

China is Kenya’s largest trading partner, largest source country of contracted companies and one of the most important sources of employment accounting for up to 50,000 Kenyans, hired by the 400 Chinese firms in the country across various sectors ranging from infrastructure, ICT, manufacturing, and other service sectors.

The recent decision by Chinese authorities to admit Kenya’s avocados and other green produce into the Chinese market is a boon to our horticultural farmers.

China Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian said China will do what it can to help Kenya’s development following the good cooperation the two countries have enjoyed.

 “China stands ready to work with Kenya to put into action the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilisation Initiative, and implement the outcomes of the Belt and Road Forum and the FOCAC meetings, so as to better support Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda ,” he said.

During Ruto’s visit to China in October, he expressed hope that the Kenya-China relationship will usher in a future of continuous development, prosperity, friendship, and common progress.

China is one of Kenya’s largest trading partners, with trade volume exceeding $8.5 billion (Sh1.3 trillion) last year, a year-on-year increase of 22.9 per cent.