President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s strong commitment to partnering with China to champion the interests of the Global South, highlighting the need for an inclusive and fair global system. Speaking during a public lecture at Peking University on his state visit to China, President Ruto emphasized the importance of South–South cooperation in addressing the pressing challenges facing developing nations today.
Ruto pointed out that the global financial and security systems, established in the aftermath of World War II, have predominantly served the interests of the Global North while marginalizing the Global South. He stressed the urgency of reforming international institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to make them more representative and responsive to the needs of developing countries.
Highlighting inequality in financial support, Ruto criticized the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation process, noting that 64 percent of the funds went to wealthy nations that did not require urgent liquidity, while the poorest countries received a mere 2.4 percent.
“The Global South must no longer be passive recipients of development agendas designed elsewhere,” Ruto stated. “We must be co-architects of a new world order—one that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable.”
He lauded China’s pivotal role in advancing development across the Global South, especially through its leadership in renewable energy. “Without China, many green technologies like solar panels and electric vehicles would be out of reach for much of the developing world,” he noted. “Today, e-bikes, solar panels, and electric buses are becoming common sights in African towns.”
President Ruto also hailed the transformative impact of the Belt and Road Initiative, which has delivered key infrastructure projects across Kenya, including roads, ports, and the Standard Gauge Railway.
As Kenya and China deepen their collaboration, Ruto’s message was clear: it is time for developing nations to assert their place at the global decision-making table, leveraging partnerships to reshape a more just and equitable international system.
