President Ruto Defends Kenya’s Trade Ties with China Amid US Concerns Over Non-NATO Ally Status
Quote from Lawyer on August 7, 2025, 6:00 amPresident William Ruto has staunchly defended Kenya’s growing trade relationship with China, emphasizing that the partnership serves the country’s economic interests despite concerns raised by United States lawmakers. Speaking at the Presidential Private Sector Roundtable at Ole Sereni in Nairobi, Ruto addressed the trade imbalance with China and highlighted recent agreements that open Chinese markets to Kenyan agricultural exports, a move he described as a significant breakthrough for Kenya’s economy.
During his recent state visit to China, Ruto held candid discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on the stark disparity in trade. He noted that Kenya imports approximately Sh600 billion worth of goods from China annually, while its exports to the Asian nation account for only about five percent of that figure. To address this imbalance, China agreed to remove tariffs on Kenyan agricultural products, including tea, coffee, avocados, and other commodities. “We have concluded the high-level conversation with China. They have agreed to a reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and China. They have agreed to remove all the tariffs on our tea, coffee, avocado, and other agricultural exports. That’s a major breakthrough for us,” Ruto stated. He emphasized that these agreements are expected to be finalized within the next few months, allowing Kenyan producers to tap into China’s vast market.
Ruto’s remarks come in the wake of heightened scrutiny from US lawmakers, particularly Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Risch has initiated a process to review Kenya’s status as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), a designation conferred by the US in June 2024. The senator expressed concerns over Kenya’s deepening ties with China, Russia, and Iran, as well as alleged connections to extremist groups such as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Somalia’s Al-Shabaab. Risch’s initiative calls for a comprehensive reassessment of Kenya’s diplomatic alignment, internal policies, and peacekeeping role in Africa, with a directive issued to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to complete the review within 90 days.
The US has also raised accusations that Kenya serves as a financial haven for individuals and organizations designated as terrorists, including those based in South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Somalia. Additionally, concerns have been voiced about human rights abuses under Ruto’s administration, particularly in response to the July 7, 2025, Gen Z protests, which resulted in reported fatalities and abductions. These issues have fueled the US Congressional push to reevaluate Kenya’s MNNA status, with critics arguing that Kenya’s growing alignment with China signals a shift in loyalty away from its traditional Western allies.
Despite these concerns, Ruto maintained that Kenya’s foreign policy is not about choosing sides in global rivalries but about securing economic opportunities for its people. “It’s partly why I have a bit of a problem with some of our friends, but it is what I must do for Kenya. It is in the best interest of Kenya that we get into this market. Some of our friends are complaining that we are doing too much trade with China,” he said. Ruto stressed that Kenya is also pursuing similar trade discussions with other nations, including India, Turkey, and Canada, to diversify its economic partnerships.
The President’s defense of Kenya’s trade strategy comes amid a broader context of diplomatic balancing. Kenya has been a key participant in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with significant infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) underscoring its role as a major BRI partner in East Africa. Ruto’s April 2025 visit to China resulted in agreements worth $950 million, covering sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and transport infrastructure. These agreements included plans to extend the SGR to the Ugandan border and expand the Nairobi-Nakuru highway through a public-private partnership.
During his Beijing visit, Ruto described Kenya and China as “co-architects of a new world order,” a statement that drew sharp criticism from Senator Risch, who labeled it as evidence of Kenya’s allegiance to China rather than mere alignment. The joint communiqué from the visit emphasized “China-Africa solidarity” and a commitment to promoting “inclusive globalization,” a subtle critique of Western-led multilateralism. China’s President Xi Jinping highlighted the agreements as a response to a “turbulent international situation,” reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two nations.
While deepening ties with China, Ruto has also sought to maintain strong relations with the United States. Kenya’s designation as an MNNA reflects its importance as a security and economic partner in the region, particularly in counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia and along key maritime trade routes. However, the US has expressed frustration over Kenya’s participation in the BRI and its perceived drift toward non-Western powers. The Trump administration has also flagged issues of financial transparency and human rights, citing the Ruto government’s response to last year’s anti-IMF austerity protests, which resulted in significant casualties and abductions.
Ruto’s administration has faced domestic challenges as well, with political tensions rising ahead of the 2027 General Election. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused Ruto of attempting to divide the Mt Kenya region’s voter base, while opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka have criticized Ruto’s recent Cabinet reshuffle as a power-consolidation tactic. Despite these pressures, Ruto remains focused on economic transformation, citing initiatives like affordable housing, universal health coverage, and industrial parks as central to his agenda.
As Kenya navigates its position between global superpowers, Ruto’s government appears determined to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy that prioritizes economic growth over geopolitical allegiance. The outcome of the US Congressional review and the finalization of Kenya’s trade agreements with China will likely shape the country’s diplomatic and economic trajectory in the coming years.
President William Ruto has staunchly defended Kenya’s growing trade relationship with China, emphasizing that the partnership serves the country’s economic interests despite concerns raised by United States lawmakers. Speaking at the Presidential Private Sector Roundtable at Ole Sereni in Nairobi, Ruto addressed the trade imbalance with China and highlighted recent agreements that open Chinese markets to Kenyan agricultural exports, a move he described as a significant breakthrough for Kenya’s economy.
During his recent state visit to China, Ruto held candid discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on the stark disparity in trade. He noted that Kenya imports approximately Sh600 billion worth of goods from China annually, while its exports to the Asian nation account for only about five percent of that figure. To address this imbalance, China agreed to remove tariffs on Kenyan agricultural products, including tea, coffee, avocados, and other commodities. “We have concluded the high-level conversation with China. They have agreed to a reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and China. They have agreed to remove all the tariffs on our tea, coffee, avocado, and other agricultural exports. That’s a major breakthrough for us,” Ruto stated. He emphasized that these agreements are expected to be finalized within the next few months, allowing Kenyan producers to tap into China’s vast market.
Ruto’s remarks come in the wake of heightened scrutiny from US lawmakers, particularly Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Risch has initiated a process to review Kenya’s status as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), a designation conferred by the US in June 2024. The senator expressed concerns over Kenya’s deepening ties with China, Russia, and Iran, as well as alleged connections to extremist groups such as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Somalia’s Al-Shabaab. Risch’s initiative calls for a comprehensive reassessment of Kenya’s diplomatic alignment, internal policies, and peacekeeping role in Africa, with a directive issued to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to complete the review within 90 days.
The US has also raised accusations that Kenya serves as a financial haven for individuals and organizations designated as terrorists, including those based in South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Somalia. Additionally, concerns have been voiced about human rights abuses under Ruto’s administration, particularly in response to the July 7, 2025, Gen Z protests, which resulted in reported fatalities and abductions. These issues have fueled the US Congressional push to reevaluate Kenya’s MNNA status, with critics arguing that Kenya’s growing alignment with China signals a shift in loyalty away from its traditional Western allies.
Despite these concerns, Ruto maintained that Kenya’s foreign policy is not about choosing sides in global rivalries but about securing economic opportunities for its people. “It’s partly why I have a bit of a problem with some of our friends, but it is what I must do for Kenya. It is in the best interest of Kenya that we get into this market. Some of our friends are complaining that we are doing too much trade with China,” he said. Ruto stressed that Kenya is also pursuing similar trade discussions with other nations, including India, Turkey, and Canada, to diversify its economic partnerships.
The President’s defense of Kenya’s trade strategy comes amid a broader context of diplomatic balancing. Kenya has been a key participant in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with significant infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) underscoring its role as a major BRI partner in East Africa. Ruto’s April 2025 visit to China resulted in agreements worth $950 million, covering sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and transport infrastructure. These agreements included plans to extend the SGR to the Ugandan border and expand the Nairobi-Nakuru highway through a public-private partnership.
During his Beijing visit, Ruto described Kenya and China as “co-architects of a new world order,” a statement that drew sharp criticism from Senator Risch, who labeled it as evidence of Kenya’s allegiance to China rather than mere alignment. The joint communiqué from the visit emphasized “China-Africa solidarity” and a commitment to promoting “inclusive globalization,” a subtle critique of Western-led multilateralism. China’s President Xi Jinping highlighted the agreements as a response to a “turbulent international situation,” reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two nations.
While deepening ties with China, Ruto has also sought to maintain strong relations with the United States. Kenya’s designation as an MNNA reflects its importance as a security and economic partner in the region, particularly in counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia and along key maritime trade routes. However, the US has expressed frustration over Kenya’s participation in the BRI and its perceived drift toward non-Western powers. The Trump administration has also flagged issues of financial transparency and human rights, citing the Ruto government’s response to last year’s anti-IMF austerity protests, which resulted in significant casualties and abductions.
Ruto’s administration has faced domestic challenges as well, with political tensions rising ahead of the 2027 General Election. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused Ruto of attempting to divide the Mt Kenya region’s voter base, while opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka have criticized Ruto’s recent Cabinet reshuffle as a power-consolidation tactic. Despite these pressures, Ruto remains focused on economic transformation, citing initiatives like affordable housing, universal health coverage, and industrial parks as central to his agenda.
As Kenya navigates its position between global superpowers, Ruto’s government appears determined to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy that prioritizes economic growth over geopolitical allegiance. The outcome of the US Congressional review and the finalization of Kenya’s trade agreements with China will likely shape the country’s diplomatic and economic trajectory in the coming years.