Mudavadi Heads to China as Ruto Pushes for Big-Budget Infrastructure and Trade Boost Amid U.S. Concerns Over Shifting Alliances

Kenya is ramping up its global diplomacy, and all roads this week lead to Beijing. President William Ruto has dispatched Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to China on a critical diplomatic mission aimed at securing multi-billion shilling infrastructure funding and expanding Kenya’s trade reach into the Asian giant’s markets. 

Speaking during a Sunday service in Kakamega County, Ruto revealed that Mudavadi is leading a high-powered delegation tasked with unlocking key deals, most notably, the financing of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension to Malaba, and the long-awaited upgrade of the Rironi–Mau Summit–Eldoret–Bungoma–Malaba highway. 

“We must build our economy on solid infrastructure, and that’s why we are seeking strategic partnerships to move Kenya forward,” Ruto told the congregation. 

At the top of the agenda is China’s potential investment in the SGR’s final western leg. If successful, it will complete a trade corridor linking Mombasa to Uganda and beyond, a critical move for regional integration. 

The highway project, meanwhile, could begin construction as early as August, although Ruto admitted it may be implemented in phases due to funding constraints. 

Notably, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is eyeing a bold role in the highway’s development. In partnership with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the NSSF may invest billions from Kenyan pensioners—raising eyebrows among citizens who worry about the safety of public retirement funds being used in megaprojects. 

While the infrastructure talks are central, trade is also high on Mudavadi’s priority list. With Kenya now exporting avocados, tea, macadamia, and coffee at scale, the government is keen to deepen access to Chinese consumers. 

“We are working on finalizing a trade agreement with China within the next three or four months,” Ruto said. “This will open doors for our farmers and exporters.” 

Kenya has already signed bilateral trade deals with the UK and the US. China, with its vast population and growing middle class, presents the next frontier. 

This renewed China charm offensive is drawing international attention, particularly from Washington. 

Following Ruto’s April visit to China, U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, publicly raised alarms over Kenya’s growing alignment with Beijing. During a Senate hearing, Risch cited Ruto’s statement declaring Kenya and China “co-architects of a new world order” as troubling. 

“That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance,” Risch warned, questioning Kenya’s reliability as a U.S. ally. 

While the U.S. remains an important partner, especially with AGOA talks ongoing, Kenya’s balancing act between the two superpowers is becoming increasingly delicate. 

In his defense, Ruto has repeatedly emphasized that Kenya’s foreign policy is rooted in multilateralism, a collaborative model that seeks cooperation from all corners of the globe, not dominance by any one power. 

During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Ruto said Kenya’s relationship with China is about fair trade, mutual respect, and shared development goals. 

“We want to be friends with all,” he said. “Our goal is to elevate Kenya’s economic standing, not choose sides.” 

With Mudavadi in China negotiating high-stakes deals and global powers closely watching Kenya’s every diplomatic move, the coming months will be pivotal. 

If successful, the outcome could mean smoother roads, faster railways, and booming exports. But Kenya’s tightrope walk between East and West is only getting thinner. 

Will Ruto’s global gamble pay off?