Kenya and China decided to take their partnership to a ‘new level’ during President William Ruto’s latest state visit to Beijing. This renewal of Sino-Kenyan cooperation, marked by the signing of more than 20 agreements worth several billion dollars, comes against a backdrop of economic tensions with the United States, which decided in April 2025 to standardise customs duties with 180 countries, including Kenya, at a minimum of 10%.
Kenya and China are aiming to reach new heights in their cooperation, following the State visit by President William Ruto from 22 to 26 April 2025. The visit was marked by the signing of more than 20 agreements between the two parties, covering various sectors such as manufacturing ($320 million), agriculture ($430 million) and tourism ($230 million).
“Our ties have only deepened since culminating in the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2017. China is now subsaharan Africa’s largest trading partner and Kenya’s largest overland. We export tea, coffee, flowers and more”
William Ruto, president of the Republic – Kenya
The agreements signed between Kenya and China are part of the ‘new level’ of partnership between the two countries. Kenya and China have maintained diplomatic relations since 14 December 1963. In 2023, trade between the two countries stood at 6.8 billion dollars, according to data from the Kenyan National Treasury. The Treasury also points out that the Asian giant is Kenya’s main bilateral creditor.
“It speaks volume to the strength and depth of the relationship between Kenya and China. My visit here underscores the solid foundation built over many years to cement the relationship between our country and China. As you are aware, China has been instrumental in matters, infrastructure and general development in our country.”
William Ruto, president of the Republic – Kenya
According to China’s General Administration of Customs, in the first quarter of 2025, trade between Kenya and China grew by 11.9% to 16.13 billion yuan (approximately US$2.24 billion). According to official sources, China is Kenya’s largest trading partner and the main source of its imports, while Kenya is China’s largest trading partner in East Africa.
“This visit as the first African State visit to China this year mirrors my 2024 visit to the United States, the first African state visit there in 15 years. Perhaps, symbolically, Kenya can serve as a bridge between east and west, north and south in an era of deepening geopolitical tensions. Let this be. Our shared legacy that China and Africa through trust, vision and partnership helped build the foundation for a 21st century multilateralism that serves all humanity.”
William Ruto, president of the Republic – Kenya
The boost to cooperation with China comes against a backdrop of global trade tensions, with US President Donald Trump having decided to level tariffs with 180 countries from April 2025. Kenya, which wants to continue benefiting from duty-free exports of a number of products, sees this as a threat to more than 65,000 jobs. These new customs duties could also affect trade between the two countries. Total trade in goods between the United States and Kenya is estimated at USD 1.5 billion in 2024, with the East African country importing USD 782.5 billion worth of products over the period and exporting USD 737.3 billion to the North American country.
