President William Ruto kicked off his four-day state visit to China on a high note, securing investment pledges worth KSh107 billion from seven Chinese companies during the Kenya-China Business Forum held in Beijing on Wednesday.
Accompanied by top government officials including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries Lee Kinyanjui (Trade), Davis Chirchir (Roads), and William Kabogo (ICT), President Ruto witnessed the signing of several deals that span key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and technology.
The forum was jointly organized by Kenya’s Ministry of Trade, the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), and the Chinese government.
Among the highlights was a KSh19.5 billion commitment by China Wuyi to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on a 191-acre piece of land in Kikambala, Kilifi County. The zone is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs, aligning with government efforts to industrialize the coastal region.
In Kajiado County, Penfeng Investment Limited and Shangcheng Apparel Group pledged to invest KSh2.6 billion in warehouses for textile, garment, and solar power factories. The move is seen as a major boost to the government’s job creation and clean energy agenda.
Also notable is Rongtai Steel Limited, which will invest KSh19.5 billion in a steel production plant in Lukenya, directly supporting the Affordable Housing Programme and creating 700 new jobs.
Agriculture, a key pillar of the Kenyan economy, also received a significant boost. Shandong Jialejia Agriculture will channel KSh3.9 billion into establishing a 500,000-hen egg farm in Kajiado, taking advantage of the government’s zero-rated import policy for hatchery eggs.
Biotech firm Zonken Group committed KSh41.6 billion to a massive aloe vera processing facility in Baringo and an additional KSh10.4 billion to develop a 72-acre grape vineyard for export.
The tourism industry wasn’t left behind either. Huatian Hotel Group announced plans to inject KSh39 billion into acquiring and leasing hotels in Nairobi, capitalizing on Kenya’s recent visa-free entry policy which has sparked a surge in visitor numbers.
In a bid to modernize infrastructure, Kenya Smart Transportation Industry Park and Anhui Jiubao Electronic Technology will set up a KSh6.5 billion smart tech factory in Murang’a to produce traffic lights and intelligent transportation equipment. This project is expected to create 5,000 new jobs.
During the forum, President Ruto also oversaw the signing of strategic partnerships between KenInvest and three Chinese institutions: the China-Africa Development Fund, the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, and Duofu International Holdings Group. These collaborations aim to enhance investment flows and promote e-commerce growth.
Addressing investors, President Ruto highlighted the country’s investor-friendly climate, emphasizing a 10-year tax holiday, guaranteed profit repatriation, strong legal protections, and a stable regulatory environment.
“Kenya is open for business,” he declared, urging more firms to invest in a country with a strategic location, a tech-savvy youth population, and over 500 already operational Chinese firms.
“You have every reason to invest here,” he added, inviting the global business community to attend the 2026 Investor Conference set to be held in Nairobi.
