For nearly two years, President William Ruto’s administration kept its stance on China somewhat ambiguous, with minimal multi-billion-shilling projects in progress. While Ruto frequently emphasised that his Kenya Kwanza regime was neither leaning West nor East, the frequent meetings with US Ambassador Meg Whitman hinted at a Western-leaning foreign policy, a departure from his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta. Kenyatta had fostered strong ties with China, resulting in massive infrastructure projects, such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Nairobi Expressway.

While a nation’s foreign relations shouldn’t be limited to a single partner, completely sidelining another can be a diplomatic misstep. The US, for example, often emphasizes intangible development areas like capacity building, human rights, and governance. On the other hand, China focuses on large-scale infrastructure projects in its diplomatic partnerships, which has been especially evident in Kenya.

In a recent move by President Ruto, Kenya’s foreign policy appears to be shifting, coinciding with significant changes in U.S. politics. Following Donald Trump’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, U.S. foreign relations are expected to take on a more “transactional diplomacy” approach. This shift could affect the commitments made to Kenya’s Kwanza administration by Joe Biden, whose term ends on January 20, 2025.

With the Democrats losing the presidency to the Republicans, a Trump administration is likely to adopt a more nationalist stance, potentially altering Nairobi’s relationship with Washington. Republican policies will prioritize U.S. interests and emphasize unilateral diplomacy, a marked shift from the multilateral approach that has become increasingly important in today’s complex global landscape.

After attending the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in September, President Ruto secured Sh36 billion for the completion of stalled projects and received support from Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate SGR Phase 2B and 2C. This signalled a shift, indicating that the Kenya Kwanza regime intends to deepen its ties with China for significant projects, much like the Jubilee government before it.

In a recent meeting with Li Xi, a senior Chinese official at State House in Nairobi, President Ruto described Kenya’s relationship with China as “strategic,” underscoring projects that will elevate the ties and help alleviate poverty. This development suggests that, after a period of reflection, the Ruto administration recognizes Beijing as a critical partner for funding large-scale infrastructure projects.

One of the appealing aspects of China as a partner is its non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, which has made it a trusted development ally. China’s “request-based” financing, especially within the Global South, supports a consensus-building approach, prioritizing a nation’s development needs.

While many Kenyans have faith in the durability of Chinese-built infrastructure, they also expect transparency and accountability in Sino-Kenya relations. To strengthen Sino-Kenyan relations, Ruto’s administration should engage with the public to counter persistent negative narratives, particularly in certain global media outlets. President Xi’s focus on people-to-people exchanges offers an opportunity for deeper connections between Chinese investors and Kenyan communities.

— The writer is a Journalist and Communication Consultant