Kenyan President William Ruto’s recent state visit to China has sparked significant backlash from the United States, reflecting a deeper geopolitical contest for dominance over Africa’s strategic resources.
Ruto embarked on this visit to Beijing in April, marking his third trip since assuming office. The visit culminated in the signing of agreements valued at approximately $950 million. These agreements covered a wide array of sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and transport infrastructure.
Among the most notable developments from Ruto’s visit is the plan to extend Kenya’s standard gauge railway (SGR) towards the Ugandan border. This project had been stalled since 2019 due to financial constraints. Additionally, plans were set in motion for the expansion of a crucial highway connecting Nairobi and the Rift Valley city of Nakuru, which will be executed through a public-private partnership.
During the visit, Nairobi and Beijing signed a total of 20 cooperation agreements that encompass areas such as science, water management, e-commerce, transport, and vocational training. Key financial commitments included a $150 million deal with China Wu Yi for construction, $400 million in agricultural investments from Zonken Group in Baringo County, and $230 million from Hunan Conference Exhibition Group aimed at boosting tourism. Further investments entered the fray as China’s Benny Tea Industries pledged an additional $100 million in Kenya.
This visit amplifies China’s economic influence in Kenya, especially against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. The timing coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of sweeping tariffs that threaten to subordinate global trade to American strategic interests. These tariffs are projected to devastate Kenya’s economy and could potentially lead to an $838 million loss in U.S. exports if demand declines.
At a press conference held jointly with Chinese officials, Ruto extolled the virtues of Chinese-backed infrastructure, stating, “We have achieved many things together,” while endorsing Kenya’s membership in the Belt and Road Initiative. He claimed this partnership has been pivotal in reshaping the country and enhancing connectivity across East Africa.
A joint communiqué issued during the visit emphasized “China-Africa solidarity” as a pivotal force for global stability. This declaration also called for a unified approach to defend the interests of developing nations and promote an inclusive model of globalization. In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Ruto championed multilateralism, seemingly in rebuke of Washington’s stance, affirming that such an approach provides safer and fairer conditions for trade.
Chinese President Xi Jinping similarly elevated the narrative surrounding Kenya as a response to what he perceived as a “turbulent international situation,” an oblique reference to the growing U.S.-led encirclement of China.
The U.S. response was quick and unequivocal. Senator Jim Risch, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized Ruto during a hearing entitled “East Africa & The Horn: At A Turning Point or Breaking Point?” He remarked, “Just last month, President Ruto declared that Kenya, a major non-NATO ally, and China are ‘co-architects of a new world order.’ That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance.” Risch indicated that reliance on leaders who openly engage with Beijing represents a significant error and suggested it was time to “reassess our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China.”
The implications of such statements are clear: Kenya is under pressure to comply with U.S. demands or face repercussions. Human rights concerns have been raised as a pretext for this stance. Risch cited rising incidents of abductions and torture in East Africa, claiming these reflect deeper societal decay and impunity. His comments could be interpreted as directed criticism against Ruto’s administration, which has faced backlash for a brutal crackdown on anti-IMF austerity protests last year.
This critique is laden with irony. The very U.S. political establishment now posturing as a champion of human rights in the Horn of Africa continued to support Israel’s military actions in Gaza, actions that have resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 individuals and extensive destruction of essential infrastructure. Furthermore, Washington had previously rolled out the red carpet for Ruto last year, despite his prominent role in the violent aftermath of the 2007–2008 post-election turmoil, which led to over 1,200 deaths and the displacement of half a million people. During last year’s mass protests in Kenya, the U.S. provided guidance to Ruto and supported his deployment of troops to suppress dissent in the streets of Nairobi.
The U.S. tariff measures are aimed at fracturing alliances in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, effectively pushing these regions away from Chinese economic influence. However, as emphasized by analysts, the U.S. has little to offer these nations in financial terms, and a withdrawal from engagements with China could result in severe economic hardships, triggering significant social unrest.
Rather than deterring countries from leaning towards Beijing, U.S. pressures appear to be hastening their alignment with China. Kenya is navigating this complex landscape, especially considering Ruto’s previous position as a pro-U.S. figure among the Kenyan elite. During his 2022 election campaign, Ruto had fiercely criticized China’s role in Kenya, pledging to expel Chinese workers and expose potentially opaque loans related to Chinese investments. He cautioned that failure to repay loans could lead to the loss of key national assets, notably the Port of Mombasa.
However, once in office, Ruto quickly reassured Chinese officials of his commitment to the relationship. Shortly after assuming the presidency, he met with China’s special envoy, Liu Yuxi, and expressed his determination to “step up and expand” cooperation.
Simultaneously, Ruto sought to bolster military alliances with the U.S. By deploying troops to eastern Congo in 2022, he aligned himself with U.S. objectives to stabilize mineral-rich regions. Ruto also contributed 800 special forces police to Haiti, participating in a U.S.-funded operation aimed at quelling civil unrest and mitigating refugee crises.
Ruto’s growing ties with Washington were solidified when Kenya attained the designation of Major Non-NATO Ally under the Biden administration, making it the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve this status. This designation situates Kenya as a pivotal ally in American military strategies across the continent, where it plays home to two permanent U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) bases.
Despite these affiliations, the shift in U.S. economic policy under Trump has ignored Kenya’s loyalty. In the wake of the heightened economic rivalry, Ruto has found himself compelled to deepen ties with Beijing. The funding for the operations in Haiti has begun to falter, creating struggles in the payment of Kenyan mercenaries.
On the economic front, Kenya had anticipated the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access for Kenyan products to U.S. markets. However, negotiations remain unsettled, raising concerns over the future of Kenya’s $500 million textile industry. Without an agreement, tariffs could obliterate tens of thousands of jobs within export zones and related sectors.
Further compounding challenges, the Trump administration has significantly reduced USAID funding, resulting in approximately 30,000 job losses in Kenya. This cut raises alarms over crucial health services, notably HIV treatment for around 1.4 million Kenyans, with supplies expected to last only a few additional months at current levels.
In a bid to placate U.S. apprehensions, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stated, “What President Ruto was talking about is collective ownership. America is a big power, and so is China. The two nations are important to us, and we will continue to work together.” He insisted that Kenya is not pivoting away from any nation and aims to continue to balance its relations with both powers.
These events serve as a critical alert to the working class both in Africa and globally. Ruto’s oscillation between Beijing and Washington typifies the attempts made by African bourgeois regimes to navigate between these two great powers. However, claims by nationalist factions and certain political parties asserting that Africa can successfully chart a “multipolar” course run counter to the prevailing realities of a fractured global landscape.
In recent years, the Communist Party of Kenya—Marxist (CPM-K) has maintained silence regarding Ruto’s ties with China and the formal cooperation agreements between his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This silence raises questions about the political direction of the CPM-K, which has historically accepted support from the CCP. This orientation reflects the financial incentives for the more prosperous middle-class sectors that the CPM-K represents, groups which have benefited significantly from Chinese investments over decades.
The historical lessons are clear. The anti-colonial initiatives of the 20th century achieved formal independence but left the existing capitalist structures intact. Consequently, African elites have emerged as intermediaries for foreign interests under neocolonial conditions. Amid these geopolitical shifts, it is imperative for a new generation to seize the mantle of struggle, now framed within the context of international socialism.
Achieving this goal will enable the people of Africa to reclaim their resources and labor from the grip of both foreign and domestic capitalists.
The pathway forward lies in forging a united socialist movement that connects the aspirations and struggles of African workers with those of working-class individuals in the U.S., China, Europe, and around the world. Ultimately, only through the dismantling of capitalist systems on a global scale can the people of Africa realize their aspirations for peace, equality, prosperity, and their democratic rights.
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