Kenyan President William Ruto has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with China, emphasizing mutual development and expanding investment ties between the two nations.
Speaking Thursday in Nairobi during a meeting with a high-level delegation from the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank), led by Chairman Chen Huaiyu, Ruto said the growing footprint of Chinese enterprises in Kenya reflects their confidence in the country’s stability and economic direction.
“The China Exim Bank remains a central pillar of this collaboration, and we value its sustained support for major infrastructure projects as well as the growth of our technical and vocational education programs,” President Ruto said, according to a statement from the presidency.
Ruto highlighted that Kenya is committed to deepening its partnership with China “in a spirit of shared progress,” noting Beijing’s long-standing contribution to Kenya’s infrastructure transformation and skills development.
Chairman Chen reaffirmed China Exim Bank’s commitment to expanding cooperation, describing Kenya as a strategic partner. He said the bank stands ready to support projects that enhance connectivity, stimulate investment, and advance sustainable economic development in the country.
Chen also expressed confidence that the newly launched Intelligent Transport System (ITS) project will further cement bilateral ties and contribute to Kenya’s long-term development agenda.
The meeting followed the signing of a US$185 million concessional loan agreement on Wednesday between Kenya and China Exim Bank to finance the ITS project—one of the flagship initiatives under Kenya’s integrated transport modernization program.
The agreement was signed by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Zhu Jia, deputy general manager of the Sovereign Business Department of China Exim Bank.
In a separate statement, Mbadi said the ITS project will play a critical role in transforming mobility across Kenya’s major transport corridors. Once completed, the system will reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety through real-time surveillance, shorten travel times, and strengthen data-driven enforcement of transport regulations.
He added that the project will also help build the digital backbone needed for smart-city infrastructure, delivering significant economic savings, boosting productivity, and enhancing the daily commuting experience for millions of road users.
The expanded cooperation marks another milestone in the long-standing Kenya–China partnership, particularly in the areas of transport, infrastructure development, and technology-driven public service delivery.
