By SHARON NAKOLA
Kenya is seeking to deepen its cooperation with China as it prepares a new development agenda beyond Vision 2030, with Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi saying the two countries have lessons to share from their respective national transformation efforts.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday at a reception marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Mudavadi praised China’s long-term development experience and said Kenya could draw lessons from its institution-building and efforts to advance national development.
As Kenya approaches the conclusion of Vision 2030, Mudavadi said that the government is already looking ahead to a new development framework for the period beyond 2030, creating opportunities for further cooperation with China.
“Kenya and China have much to share in national transformation into the future,” Mudavadi said, citing institution-building, poverty reduction, and national cohesion as areas reflected in China’s development experience.
He said strong state institutions would be important for Kenya as it works to combat corruption, strengthen national unity, and consolidate development gains.
Mudavadi also highlighted the growing economic relationship between the two countries, where trade has emerged as a key area of the partnership. He said Kenya was ready to begin comprehensive negotiations with China under the China-Africa Development Economic Partnership Agreement, following the signing of an Early Harvest Agreement earlier this year.
He said the Kenya-China Early Harvest arrangement provides duty-free access for Kenyan exports, with the Kenyan government saying it is intended to expand shipments of agricultural and value-added products including tea, coffee, avocados, and horticultural goods.
China’s broader zero-tariff policy for African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing took effect on May 1. The Chinese Embassy in Kenya said exports of Kenyan goods — such as avocado oil and aquatic products — to China have increased dramatically following the policy.
Mudavadi said Kenya wanted to use the expanding market access to attract investment, increase value addition, and strengthen the competitiveness of Kenyan products in China.
Mudavadi said that the infrastructure projects supported by China-Kenya cooperation could enhance regional connectivity, improve access to the Indian Ocean for landlocked countries, and spur the development of an economic corridor linking agricultural areas with manufacturing, value addition, and trade.
“As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, I reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to strengthen Kenya-China strategic partnership and advancing the implementation of the important consensus reached between our leaders in April 2025,” Mudavadi said.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said that China’s development had been closely linked to cooperation with countries around the world and described Africa as an important partner in China’s modernization efforts.
China and Africa had strengthened cooperation over seven decades, Guo said, while stressing Beijing’s support for African countries’ sovereignty and development. She said exchanges between government institutions, legislatures, political parties, and local authorities had also increased.
She said China and Kenya had also expanded people-to-people exchanges during the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with more than 20 activities held in Kenya and more than 1,000 Kenyans from different sectors travelling to China for training and study programs.
“China is ready to deepen cooperation with Kenya in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, education, youth affairs, science, and technology,” Guo said adding that the two countries would continue supporting each other in multilateral affairs and work together on issues affecting the Global South.
More than 500 guests, including Kenyan government officials, diplomats, international organizations, and members of the Chinese community, attended the reception at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi. (CD/GSF)
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