President William Ruto is scheduled for a five-day State Visit to China from April 22 to April 26, 2025, following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The announcement, made by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Thursday, highlights the growing importance of Nairobi-Beijing relations in shaping Kenya’s infrastructure and investment landscape.
The visit comes at a time when Kenya is actively renegotiating key infrastructure projects, notably the ambitious Nairobi-Nakuru highway expansion. Initially awarded to French consortium Vinci SA during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, the Ksh.190 billion project aims to upgrade the 140-kilometre single-lane road into a multilane highway. However, concerns over the financial risks placed on the government due to insufficient traffic demand have led to a review of the deal. As a result, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has reopened the contract and is now engaging a Chinese contractor, whose identity is yet to be disclosed.
President Ruto’s upcoming visit marks his return to China just months after attending the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September 2024. During that summit, Kenya pushed for deeper bilateral engagement with China, securing strategic investments in infrastructure, trade, and technology.
Among the key items on Ruto’s agenda in Beijing will be the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) phases 2B and 2C, the dualing of the Nairobi Northern Bypass, and other critical transport corridor upgrades. The President is also expected to seek new funding models that shift financial risks from the Kenyan government while ensuring value-for-money on major projects.
The visit symbolizes a broader shift in Kenya’s foreign policy approach balancing relationships with Western and Eastern partners to secure favorable terms for national development. China remains Kenya’s largest bilateral creditor and infrastructure partner, and this trip is expected to reaffirm and redefine that relationship in light of shifting economic priorities and public debt concerns.
As President Ruto heads to Beijing, the outcomes of this visit could significantly influence the trajectory of Kenya’s infrastructure ambitions and bilateral cooperation with one of its most important global allies.
