President William Ruto will depart the country for China on Saturday, October 14 in the evening.
According to a statement from State House, the Head of State will embark on a three-day official visit that is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s bilateral relations with Beijing.
In the statement seen by The Kenya Times, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed confirmed that Ruto will seek to highlight Kenya’s active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) led by China.
As such, Ruto will attend a BRI Forum to be held in China and bringing together leaders from across the world to discuss ways of enhancing infrastructural development.
According to Hussein, the President is expected to deliver a keynote address in the forum titled “Digital Economy as a New Source of Growth”.
The 2023 BRI Forum will be the first since 2019 and will mark 10 years since its inception.
In addition, Ruto will convene a meeting bringing together investors from both Kenya and China in a bid to market Kenya’s position as investment hub.
The announcement came days after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua intimated plans to seek funds to finance pending infrastructural projects in the country.
About BRI
Launched in 2013, the BRI is a Chinese led initiative that is focused in improving connectivity and cooperation on matters infrastructure on a transcontinental scale.
Through the initiative, China offers countries from across the world an opportunity to secure direct foreign investments in various projects.
So far, Kenya has reaped several benefits from being an active participant in the initiative, key among them being the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) constructed from Mombasa to Nairobi and an extension to Naivasha.
In addition, the BRI has played significant roles in the expansion of the Mombasa Port as well as the Lamu Port.
However, the initiative has not been without its critics, with concerns about the runaway debt crisis and investment in some projects deemed to be ‘unsustainable” emerging.
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Speaking during an interview with a local radio station, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua hinted at plans by the President to seek a loan the in his trip to China.
In the interview, Gachagua said the fuds would be used to finance stalled road projects in the country amid an apparent slow progress of select infrastructural projects inherited from the previous administration.
Earlier in Sepetmber, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen that the remainder of the planned SGR line to Malaba would be completed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Chinese players.
The visit came at time Kenya was grappling with a debt situation, with reports from the Controller of the budget showing that the government was spending a huge chunk of its revenue in debt servicing.
