Kenyan president looks to China for support amidst US trade war
Kenyan president William Ruto has stated his intention to build closer ties with China amidst the economic uncertainly caused by US tariffs worldwide.
According to the Associated press, the Kenyan president expressed his desire to strengthen relations with China during a week -long visit to the country – his third since being elected in 2022.
Speaking on April 24, Ruto said the purpose of the visit was to learn from China’s dramatic transformation in “governance, economic and global leadership” over the past few decades, and to explore how elements of that transformation could be implemented back home in Kenya.
He also noted that the trip was an opportunity to express deep gratitude for the millions of dollars in foreign aid and development assistance China has provided to Kenya over the years.
Ruto’s pivot towards China marks a gradual shift in Kenya’s foreign policy.
When first elected in 2022, Ruto was far more Western-leaning, favouring cooperation with the United States over China. However, due to US president Donald Trump’s recent tariff actions and the general US withdrawal and disinterest in Africa, Ruto appears to have shifted his allegiance towards Beijing.
China, for its part, places strong strategic importance on its relationship with Kenya. President Xi Jinping told his Kenyan counterpart that “China attaches great importance to China-Kenya relations.”
Kenya is a key partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe through large-scale energy and transport infrastructure. Billions of dollars have already been invested in Kenyan projects aligned with this initiative.
Maintaining strong ties with Kenya is vital to China’s economic and strategic goals, particularly as it seeks to expand its influence globally.
This move to deepen ties comes as China becomes increasingly active in African politics.
As previously reported by Maghrebi, back in March, China broke from its traditional neutrality in African affairs due to concerns that the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could impact its economic interests in the region.
This culminated in a rare condemnation of Rwanda, with Beijing demanding that it ”stop its military support for M23” a prominent rebel group in the region. This marked the first time China has publicly intervened in African regional politics– a clear sign of how invested it has become in the continent’s future.
Associated Press, Maghrebi
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