Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who doubles up as Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS, has arrived in Beijing, China, ahead of President William Ruto’s state visit to the East Asian country.
Mudavadi was received by Ambassador Willy Bett at Beijing Capital International Airport on Monday, April 21, 2025.
“H.E. Dr. @MusaliaMudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has arrived in Beijing, China ahead of the State visit by H.E. President @WilliamsRuto to the Republic of China. H.E. Dr. Mudavadi was received by Ambassador Willy Bett, at Beijing Capital International Airport,” Mudavadi’s office said in a statement shared via social media.
Ruto is set to embark on his first state visit to China since assuming office. He is expected to kick off his five-day state visit to China on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
During his visit, President Ruto will hold high-level talks with President Xi, Premier Li Qiang, and National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji, reflecting China’s recognition of Kenya as a key partner in Africa.
Kenya-China bilateral agreements
The two nations are expected to sign multiple bilateral agreements across sectors such as trade, manufacturing, agriculture, climate change, education, tourism, security, and technology transfer.
Top on the agenda are discussions around financing major infrastructure projects, including the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba via Kisumu.
The proposed dualing of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway—part of the larger Rironi–Malaba corridor—will also feature in their discussions.
The visit comes as Kenya grapples with mounting economic pressures and as the cash-strapped Kenya Kwanza administration seeks to navigate local economic headwinds but also the turbulent waters of the ongoing US-China trade conflict.
The visit also arrives at a pivotal moment for Ruto’s recently reorganised government, which is heavily indebted to China and urgently requires financial support to stabilise the economy amid mounting pressure from Kenyans.
The backdrop to the visit is the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing, marked by reciprocal tariffs that have disrupted global supply chains and impacted Kenya’s export-dependent economy.