As Kenya faces economic uncertainty following the U.S. aid freeze, China has reassured its commitment to supporting the country’s development agenda. Speaking at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan emphasized that the future of global development must not be dictated by a single power but by collective international cooperation.
Her remarks come in the wake of the United States’ 90-day suspension of USAID funding, which has resulted in over 35,000 job losses in Kenya and the closure of 150 health clinics. The freeze has significantly impacted 72,000 HIV patients who relied on donor funds for medication. Advocacy groups have warned that the loss of aid could severely affect Kenya’s workforce and healthcare system.
Ambassador Haiyan underscored China’s long-standing partnership with Africa, noting that the two regions collectively represent a market of 2.8 billion people. She reaffirmed China’s commitment to mutual respect, equality, and economic cooperation, stressing that isolationist policies are bound to fail.
“We will remain steadfast in mutual respect and equality, support each other in pursuing development paths suited to respective national conditions, and jointly advance an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial economic globalization,” Haiyan stated.
The remarks were made during the Lens of Xinhua: Images of the Century photo exhibition, organized by the Xinhua News Agency and the Chinese Embassy. The exhibition showcased China’s journey of sustainable development since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, with 105 selected photographs highlighting key historical moments.
Yuan Bingzhong, Xinhua’s deputy director, emphasized the significance of China’s development model, suggesting that many developing nations could replicate its strategies to achieve economic self-sufficiency. He cited the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, as a testament to the benefits of China-Kenya cooperation.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, reacting to the U.S. aid freeze, described it as a wake-up call for African nations. “Why are you crying? It is not your government; it is not your country,” he remarked. “This is a wake-up call for you to ask, ‘What are we going to do to help ourselves?’”
With China reinforcing its commitment to Kenya, the shifting dynamics highlight Africa’s push for diversified global partnerships amid evolving geopolitical and economic landscapes.
