Thu Apr 24 07:26:55 UTC 2025: ## Kenya Shifts Closer to China Amidst Trump’s Trade War
**Nairobi/Beijing, April 24, 2025** – Kenyan President William Ruto pledged to strengthen ties with China on Thursday, following his criticism of a global trade war sparked by U.S. tariffs as a potential threat to the existing world order. During a five-day visit to Beijing, Ruto’s comments highlight a shift in Kenya’s foreign policy, moving towards closer collaboration with China amidst growing tensions with the United States.
Ruto, who previously favored Western alliances, expressed his desire to learn from China’s economic development and global leadership. He thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for significant financial support in various sectors and for planned infrastructural projects, including a new building for Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies are creating uncertainty for African nations reliant on U.S. markets.
In a speech at Peking University on Wednesday, Ruto condemned the current global order as “broken and dysfunctional,” directly linking Trump’s tariffs to potential collapse of the system. Many African countries, including Kenya, face economic uncertainty due to these tariffs, which impact key export industries. While the U.S. remains a significant export destination for Kenya, China is now its leading supplier.
The meeting between Xi and Ruto resulted in several agreements covering security, technology, economics, railway projects, and the establishment of a new Kenyan consulate in Guangzhou. This deepening relationship underscores China’s continued engagement in Africa through its Belt and Road Initiative and its strategic response to the escalating trade conflict with the United States.
First Piper 