Kenya – Ruto And Raila Arrive In Beijing United For China-Africa Summit

By Lisbeth Micheni,Kenya

In a remarkable display of unity, President William Ruto and former political rival Raila Odinga arrived in Beijing on Monday evening, ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit.

The two leaders, whose relationship has seen a surprising ease in recent months, are part of a high-profile delegation of African leaders attending the summit.

“China-Africa Cooperation Summit. The meeting presents an opportunity for Africa to renew and strengthen its partnership with China,” Ruto tweeted upon their arrival.

“Over the years, China has proven to be a true development partner, significantly revamping our infrastructure. We look forward to leveraging these ties to accelerate our transformation,” he added.

The presence of Ruto and Raila at such a high-profile event represents a significant shift in Kenyan politics.

For years, the two have been fierce opponents, with Raila challenging election results that favored Ruto in their last outing.

However, the anti-tax protests earlier this year sparked an unexpected reconciliation, leading to the formation of a broad-based government.

During the summit, President Ruto is expected to pursue multi-million-dollar agreements with China, focusing on infrastructure and trade.

Meanwhile, Raila is anticipated to meet with African leaders, likely to support his bid to become the chairperson of the African Union Commission.

During the summit, which focuses on modernization and building a high-level China-Africa community, President Ruto will co-chair a session on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

According to a Sunday State House statement, one of President Ruto’s top priorities is a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new areas of cooperation.

Additionally, President Ruto will attend the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Conference, where he will advocate for increased Chinese investment in Kenya’s infrastructure, healthcare, and technology sectors.

Kenya expects to reach agreements on infrastructure development, such as the construction of rural roads, the Nairobi Intelligent Transportation System, and the Bosto Dam Water Supply Project.

Discussions will also center on extending and completing phases 2B and 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway, dualling the Nairobi Northern Bypass, and other critical infrastructure projects.

The visit is also expected to pave the way for new cooperation projects, such as establishing a pharmaceutical park and negotiating a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA).