Kenya has firmly rejected U.S. concerns over its expanding ties with China, emphasizing that its foreign policy is guided by national interests and does not represent a shift in allegiance. The response follows pointed remarks by U.S. Senator Jim Risch during a Senate hearing that raised alarm over Kenya’s growing alignment with Beijing.
Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized President William Ruto’s recent reference to Kenya and China as “co-architects of a new world order,” interpreting it as an endorsement of China’s global agenda and a challenge to traditional U.S.-Kenya relations. He urged Washington to reconsider its ties with countries like Kenya that strengthen cooperation with Beijing.
In a rebuttal, Nelson Koech, chair of Kenya’s National Assembly Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that President Ruto’s words reflect Africa’s rightful place in shaping global systems, not a pivot away from long-standing partners. “Kenya is not choosing sides — we are asserting our voice,” Koech wrote in a letter to Senator Risch, calling for acknowledgment of Kenya’s consistent strategic ties with the United States.
The diplomatic tension comes in the wake of President Ruto’s state visit to China — the first by an African leader this year — where he met with President Xi Jinping and elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The visit produced 20 agreements covering infrastructure, trade, energy, and digital innovation, including plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway to Uganda’s border.
Ruto also delivered a lecture at Peking University, calling for a fairer global order. “Our goal is not only economic progress but dignity and shared prosperity,” he said.
Chinese officials described the visit as a milestone in Africa-China relations, noting Kenya’s central role in aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with its national Vision 2030.
While Washington remains a critical ally for Kenya, Nairobi is increasingly pursuing a diversified foreign policy aimed at economic cooperation across multiple fronts. Kenyan officials insist that this multipolar approach is necessary for sustainable development and regional integration.
As geopolitical tensions mount globally, Kenya’s balancing act between East and West reflects a broader trend among African nations asserting greater agency in global diplomacy.