President William Ruto recently concluded his four-day State visit to China, underscoring the strengthening of strategic and economic ties between the two countries.

The State visit is seen as a pivotal moment in the evolving geopolitical landscape and a reflection of the growing momentum of China-Africa collaboration.  

During the visit, Kenya and China announced they had upgraded ties to a “new level” with President Ruto and President Xi Jinping pledging to create an “all-weather” China-Africa community.

President Ruto’s visit to China came almost a year after his historic State visit to Washington, D.C., in May last year. Kenya was named a “major non-NATO ally,” opening access to U.S. military tech and security partnerships.

During China’s visit, President Ruto and President Xi Jinping committed to injecting more stability into the world with the certainty of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. This is expected to provide a backbone to safeguard the “common interests of developing countries” and defend the multilateral system, via “inclusive economic globalisation”.  

The visit was not just routine diplomacy, as it happened at a time when the U.S. and China are squaring off in a heated trade war that is affecting Kenya.

The visit has become more prominent in the context of rising global economic tensions, including the imposition of new U.S. tariffs and an increasingly fragmented international trade environment.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump announced the aid freeze in line with his “America First” foreign policy. His recent tariffs have raised fears of the end of a trade deal between the U.S. and Africa meant to boost economic growth.

Even though President Trump did not mention the U.S.–Africa trade pact of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), its status is now uncertain.

However, U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said President Trump values Africa despite announcing sweeping aid cuts that have caused considerable humanitarian distress across the continent. Speaking to BBC’s Newsday, Boulos added that Africa was very important to Trump and downplayed reports that the U.S. was planning to close some of its missions on the continent.

President Trump’s sweeping tariffs seem to have sunk hopes of the legislation being renewed. But Kenya, which exports clothes to the U.S., is trying to put a brave face on the issue, stating that, as it was not hit as hard as other textile exporters such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka, it still has a competitive advantage.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said, “It is our considered view that until the law lapses at the end of September 2025. Unless repealed earlier by Congress, the new tariffs imposed by President Trump will, in any event, still not be immediately applicable.”

Since 2000, some African countries have had duty-free access to the U.S. market for clothing and textiles, cocoa products and wine, and even crude oil. The access was tied to several conditions, including free market policies, labour and human rights, and political pluralism. As of last year, 32 countries from sub-Saharan Africa were eligible.

For a long time, AGOA has been viewed as an important tool of U.S. soft power, especially in countering China’s and Russia’s growing influence in Africa.

Support for each other

In a joint statement during the visit, China and Kenya said they firmly support each other’s independent choice of development paths suited to their national conditions. The two countries reaffirmed their solid mutual support on issues about each other’s core interests and major concerns and resolutely opposed external oppression and interference.

“Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle and recognises that there is but one China in the World, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China,” the joint statement read in part.

Additionally, the statement stated, “Kenya resolutely opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ and supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. As observed in international law and the non-interference principle, issues related to Xinjiang and Xizang are China’s internal affairs.”

The two countries also agreed to fully utilise mechanisms such as the Joint Committee on Trade, Investment, Economic and Technical Cooperation and the China-Kenya Joint Working Group to better identify the needs for economic and trade cooperation.

“China encourages more leading Chinese enterprises to invest and set up businesses in Kenya to facilitate Kenya’s endeavour to expand its competitive production capacity, upgrade industrial chains and achieve independence and sustainable development,” the statement said.

In the crosshairs

Following the China visit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled his planned visit to Nairobi and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The tour was expected to cover security and trade issues.

The abrupt cancellation is said to have been occasioned by Kenya’s latest dalliance with China, rising corruption, and President Ruto’s relationship with rebels in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.