Kenya’s President William Ruto came to Beijing with a long wishlist. In the run-up to his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ruto stressed several key infrastructure projects as key to Kenya’s cooperation with China.
- Standard Gauge Railway: The extension of the SGR to Uganda and other East African countries is key to ensuring its future profitability. After the SGR’s highly controversial and debt-laden first two phases, China has shied away from funding the later stages. However, Ruto remains tireless in campaigning for additional funding. Despite enthusiastic reporting in the Kenyan press, it remains unclear whether any progress was made during this visit.
- Rironi-Mau Road: The expansion of a major West Kenyan transport route also featured prominently. An earlier contract with a French consortium was reportedly canceled in favor of Chinese companies who could extend the road to the Ugandan border. Again, it’s unclear whether any agreement was signed.
Other Kenya-China Highlights at FOCAC
- AIIB: Ruto announced that Kenya joined the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank after meeting with AIIB officials on Tuesday. Joining the bank will likely increase Kenya’s access to infrastructure funding.
- AGRICULTURAL TRADE: China will reportedly expand Kenya’s access to its agricultural markets, with additional crops gaining import approval. No details of which specific crops will gain access have been announced.
