Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called for increased Kenyan exports to China to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries.
Speaking on Monday at the Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi, he said Kenya exported goods worth about Sh27 billion to China in 2024 while imports stood at about Sh557 billion, creating a large trade imbalance.
The Deputy President said the partnership between Kenya and China had grown into one of the country’s most important economic relationships over the past six decades.
“Kenya and China have enjoyed strong diplomatic relations since 1963. Over the past six decades, this relationship has grown into one of Kenya’s most important economic partnerships, spanning trade, infrastructure development, manufacturing cooperation, technology exchange and people-to-people engagement,” he said.
Kindiki said the forum demonstrated the commitment of both countries to increase trade and investment cooperation and expand opportunities for businesses and industries.
“Our presence here today serves to demonstrate our collective policy and political support to your endeavors to increase the volume and value of trade in goods, services and investment between our two countries,” he said.
Kindiki noted that China is one of the world’s largest economies with a population of more than 1.4 billion people, presenting opportunities for Kenyan exports and industrial cooperation.
“China is one of the world’s most dynamic economies, with a consumer base of over 1.4 billion people. For Kenya, this presents significant opportunities to expand exports, deepen industrial cooperation and attract investment,” he said.
However, the Deputy President pointed out that trade between the two countries remains heavily imbalanced, with Kenya importing significantly more goods from China than it exports.
“In 2024 for example, Kenya’s exports to China stood at Sh27 billion and imports from China were at Sh 557 billion creating a trade deficit of around Sh516 billion.,” he said.
Kindiki said this imbalance shows that trade between the two countries has not yet reached its full potential and that Kenya is seeking to increase exports to China, particularly value-added agricultural products and manufactured goods.
“This is an indication that our bilateral trade is not a true reflection of the full potential of both countries. Therefore, we can and we should be doing far much better,” he said.
He said the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development signed between Kenya and China in April 2025 would provide a platform for expanding trade, exports and investment cooperation.
He added that the export flag-off planned later in the day would mark a new phase of cooperation focused on expanding Kenya’s exports and supporting value addition.
The DP said agriculture remains a key sector in Kenya’s economy and urged Chinese businesses to increase imports of Kenyan agricultural products such as coffee, tea, avocados, vegetables, nuts, flowers and fish products.
“Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s economy, and the Chinese market presents tremendous opportunities for Kenyan agricultural exports especially coffee, tea, avocados, vegetables, nuts, flowers, fish and fish products among others,” he said.
Beyond agriculture, he said Kenya is seeking deeper cooperation with China in manufacturing, agro-processing, renewable energy, digital trade and industrial value chains.
The Deputy President also said Kenya offers Chinese investors a strategic gateway to African markets through regional trade blocs, giving investors access to a continental market of more than 1.4 billion people with a GDP equivalent of about Sh368 trillion.
“In conclusion, the success of our partnership will depend not only on government-to-government agreements but also on the dynamism of our respective private sectors. This Business Forum therefore provides an important platform for business-to-business engagements, investment partnerships and technology cooperation between Kenyan and the Chinese enterprises,” he said.
The Kenya-China Business Forum brought together government officials, investors and business leaders from both countries to discuss trade, exports, investment and industrial cooperation opportunities between Kenya and China.
