President William Ruto has conveyed a message of best wishes to His Excellency President Xi Jinping, the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China as they mark Chinese New Year.
The President in his message wished Jinping a New Year that would bring abundance from the country's commitment to the wellbeing of others.
The Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
The Lunar New Year is on January 29 and the celebrations end with Lantern Festival on February 12.
"On behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya, I extend my sincere best wishes to His Excellency President Xi Jinping, the Government and the people of the People’s Republic of China on the occasion of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake," the President said.
"May the New Year redound with abundance borne of your country’s commitment to the well-being of others."
It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The festival takes place from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the year.
The first day of the Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February.
2025 marks the Year of the Snake also known as the Year of the Wood Snake.
The Chinese zodiac calendar is best described as a 12-year cycle represented by 12 different animals - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Per Chinese cosmology, each year is also associated with one of the five basic elements, namely gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, which create a 60-year cycle.
The Wood Snake is charming, intelligent, and creative but also secretive, cunning, and sometimes ruthless. The last Wood Snake year was 1965.
Speaking during China's New Year's Eve gala in Nairobi on January 19, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said the festival is not just a Chinese event but is now globally recognised.
The Ambassador said the event provided an opportunity for Chinese and Kenyan citizens to interact and learn the Chinese culture.
"Through the global civilisation initiative, we advocate for inter-action of mutual learning of different cultures and civilisations. From the festival, we can learn from each other and eventually benefit each other,” she said.
Ambassador Haiyan said the Spring Festival is an important occasion and a representative of Chinese culture to communicate with the world.
"It is a bridge for us to preach the Chinese wisdom to others," she added.
She said China and Kenya enjoy profound traditional friendship and the relationship is characterised by mutual respect and support.
Ambassador Haiyan added that China is ready to walk with Kenya in strengthening bilateral relations and mutual trust.
The Ambassador wished the Chinese community and Kenyans a happy Spring Festival.
