Kenya has continued to court China in a move aimed at deepening ties and promoting trade between the two allies.

As part of their diplomatic engagements, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei led the Kenyan delegation to a joint technical team meeting on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

The Kenyan delegation comprised officials from the government, devolved units and players from the private sector.

Optimising SGR

In a statement shared by the Foreign Affairs PS, strategies on how to optimise the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) dominated the deliberations.

Officials from both countries engaged in deep conversations on how SGR could be remodelled and morphed to promote more investment and create more employment opportunities.

“We held the second Joint Technical Team (JTT) for the fostering of a ‘community with a shared future in the new era’ between Kenya and China today and brought together senior officials from the Chinese Embassy, National and County Governments and private sector to discuss strategies towards optimizing the Standard Gauge Railway Project ((SGR),” the statement read in part.

“Discussions, which took a place on the SGR carriage from Nairobi to Naivasha, focused on promoting investment opportunities along the SGR Belt, including the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), agro-processing, and infrastructure-led industrialisation aimed at unlocking the full potential of the SGR and creating jobs. We visited Vertical Agro EPZ Company, an integrated independent grower, processor, exporter and marketer of fresh and frozen vegetables and fruits to various markets, including China,” it added.

The different leaders also highlighted challenges bedevilling the area, slowing down the full uptake of SGR. The cost of energy, preferential market access agreements, and inefficiencies were listed among the major issues.

Present at the meeting were: Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Regina Ombam, PS Trade, Susan Kihika, Governor of Nakuru County, Tamalinye Koeach, Deputy Governor, Narok County, Martin Moshisho, Deputy Governor, Kajiado County, Phillip Mainga, Managing Director Kenya Railways Corporation, John Mwendwa, Chief Executive Officer, KenInvest, Zhang Yadan, Representative, Office of China-Africa Development Fund and Yu Xiaodong, Chairman of Kenya-China business community and General Manager, China Road and Bridge Corporation, among others.

SGR extension unlocked

William Ruto successfully negotiated a new financing model with China to extend SGR from Nakuru to Kisumu, a long-awaited milestone for the Lake Region and beyond.

The deal, secured during Ruto’s recent four-day state visit to China, marked a significant step toward unlocking economic opportunities for millions of Kenyans, particularly in Western Kenya.

The new SGR Phase 2B line will eventually connect Kisumu to Malaba, linking Kenya’s rail network to Uganda and strengthening regional trade routes across East Africa.