President Ruto seeks new multi-million infrastructure, trade deals in China visit

According to a State House communique, as President Ruto leads the Kenyan delegation to the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, he is poised to secure critical agreements and investments that will benefit Kenya for years to come.

During the summit, which focusses on modernisation and building a high-level China-Africa community, President Ruto will co-chair a session on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Kenya’s involvement in the BRI has already resulted in transformative infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Nairobi Expressway. 

According to the Sunday statement, one of President Ruto's top priorities is a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new areas of cooperation.

Additionally, President Ruto will attend the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Conference, where he will advocate for increased Chinese investment in Kenya's infrastructure, healthcare, and technology sectors.

Kenya expects to reach agreements on infrastructure development, such as the construction of rural roads, the Nairobi Intelligent Transportation System, and the Bosto Dam Water Supply Project.

Discussions will also centre on extending and completing phases 2B and 2C of the SGR, dualing the Nairobi Northern Bypass, and other critical infrastructure projects.

The visit is also expected to pave the way for new cooperation projects, such as establishing a pharmaceutical park and negotiating a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA).

According to State House, these initiatives are consistent with Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which aims to create job opportunities for the country's youth and women.