Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has joined President William Ruto in welcoming the new Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan.
Mudavadi hosted the new ambassador at his Railways HQ offices Thursday.
He assured her of strengthened partnerships between Kenya and China, citing Kenya's support in key areas of economic advancements.
This is after the ambassador presented her credentials to the Head of State pledging to enhance Kenya-China bilateral relations.
“I warmly welcome Ambassador Guo to Kenya and wish her a successful and fulfilling tenure in our great nation,” Mudavadi said in a statement on Thursday.
“As Kenya continues to strengthen its strategic partnership with China, this collaboration will play a significant role in driving economic growth, fostering regional development, and contributing to broader prosperity across the African continent.”
Their discussions focused on deepening consultations between Kenya and China to support key sectors, especially large-scale infrastructure projects, ICT, energy, education, climate change, governance, peace, security, and political stability.
“I am happy to be back in Africa, particularly Kenya, since the last time I visited in 2019. The collaboration between Kenya and China has been practical and fruitful, and we are seeing growth in the development projects that received China’s support,” the ambassador said.
“I want to reaffirm China’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s development agenda, particularly through continued financial backing for the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to the Malaba border and the Belt and Road Initiative, which is set to enhance the Nairobi-Nakuru-Malaba road network.”
Among Haiyan’s immediate assignments would include working with the Kenyan government to steer the implementation of the outcomes of last year's FOCAC meeting in Beijing.
“Kenya’s road and railway infrastructure is the main artery to Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Eastern DRC among other African countries and once we achieve a stable road and rail network the multiplier effect will be huge for the region’s economic impact,” Mudavadi said.
Among Haiyan’s immediate assignments would include working with the Kenyan government to steer the implementation of the outcomes of last year's FOCAC meeting in Beijing.
The meeting held in September last year culminated in the adoption of the FOCAC-Beijing Action Plan (2025-27).
The action plan, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for future cooperation, covers vital sectors such as trade, infrastructure, health, agriculture, green development, and security.
“Kenya is happy to be among the countries that attended the FOCAC meeting and contributed to the resolutions that will see Africa deepen her ties with China, especially on matters of infrastructural development. We are glad that you are coming in to enhance the adoption of the FOCAC plan and help not only Kenya but Africa at large move to the next economic frontier,” he added.
“We would also be advancing initiatives to do with peace and security with the support from the Chinese government, especially in helping our neighbours in the horn of Africa where political instability has affected many lives.”
Amb Haiyan also commended Kenya for maintaining favourable standards of institutional independence, political stability, and good governance, saying these are recipes for stable economic growth.
Haiyan takes over from Zhou Pingjian, whose tenure ended in December after a successful four years.
She is the 18th envoy since Kenya established diplomatic relations with China approximately 61 years ago.
She echoed her readiness to work closely with the Kenyan government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary to bolster the “people-to-people” relations for the mutual benefit of the citizens of these two countries.
