Kenya seeks stronger economic ties with China to address trade imbalance

Kenya is pursuing a strengthened economic partnership with China to drive industrialization, job creation, and technological advancement. During the 2026 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges in China, National Assembly Speaker Moses M. Wetang’ula emphasized the need to build on existing cooperation, citing major infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway and Nairobi Expressway as evidence of bilateral impact.

A primary focus of these discussions is addressing the significant trade imbalance between the two nations. In 2025, Kenya imported approximately US$5.19 billion in goods from China, while exports to China were valued at only about US$130.8 million. To bridge this gap, Kenyan officials are looking toward enhanced local manufacturing, increased value addition in agriculture, and improved market access for Kenyan products.

Opportunities for cooperation have also been identified in clean energy, agriculture, and skills development. To date, 144 technical and vocational training institutions have received modern equipment through Kenya–China initiatives, and 314 trainers have undergone training.