Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has confirmed that Kenya is eager to embark on several development projects and is seeking China’s support to bring them to life.
Mudavadi, who is in China accompanying President William Ruto on his State Visit, outlined various programmes that Nairobi aims to implement in collaboration with Beijing.
He underscored the necessity of modernizing the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to enhance its status as a leading hub in Eastern Africa and across the continent. He said the Kenyan government is accelerating efforts to engage a new contractor for the project, following the cancellation of the previous agreement with Adani Holdings.
In a meeting in China’s capital with Raymond Luo, President of Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) – one of the largest international construction groups with expertise in airport development – Mudavadi revealed that they discussed the expansion of JKIA.
“They shared insights from their 42 years of experience building over 30 airport terminals, runways, and specialized aviation facilities worldwide,” he stated.
“I encouraged them to submit their expression of interest as Kenya prepares to invite contractors for the upcoming JKIA expansion,” he added.
According to Mudavadi, Kenya continues to be a vital gateway to Africa. To reinforce this position, he highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum in strategic projects such as extending the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Ugandan border, upgrading the Nairobi–Malaba highway, and improving the efficiency of Mombasa Port. He reiterated that these projects are crucial for securing and strengthening Kenya’s leadership role in the region and beyond.
“Advancing Africa’s connectivity is no longer optional, it’s urgent. In today’s climate of global tariff wars, we must unlock the full potential of intra-African trade,” he stated during bilateral talks with Zhonging Wang, Chief Executive Officer of the Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance.
“We agreed on the critical need to break down barriers that limit trade within our 1.4 billion-strong continent, where intra-trade stands at just 16%,” the Prime CS added.
In addition to airports, roads, ports, and railways, Mudavadi confirmed that Kenya is seeking China’s assistance to improve its water and sanitation sector.
Following a meeting with a delegation from CGCOC Group Ltd, led by Vice President Lei Gao, Mudavadi noted that they discussed investment opportunities in Kenya’s water sector. He stressed that as country’s cities expand, the demand for robust water and sanitation systems also increases, which is essential for enhancing the quality of life for all citizens.
“I emphasized that Kenya is looking for partners with the capacity and commitment to drive transformational, life-changing projects,” he said.
At the same time, the Prime CS indicated that Kenya is scouting for technologies to be deployed in the fight against crime and corruption, utilizing the power of ICT and Artificial Intelligence.
He made these remarks after holding talks with executives from Xinxing JiHua International Trading, a leader in manufacturing military and police equipment, as well as textiles. During the meeting, Mudavadi stated they discussed ways to strengthen Kenya’s defence and security systems.
“Their innovative technologies, including overt and covert equipment, offer new tools for our security forces to enhance service delivery, transparency, and accountability,” he said.
Mudavadi later met with Huawei’s Global Vice President, Mr. Wang Ke, to discuss deepening support for key government initiatives, ranging from accelerating the digital economy to expanding opportunities for the youth.
“Following Huawei’s successful connection of TVETs, schools, and hospitals, we are now exploring new areas of collaboration, including rural connectivity, advanced training programmes for young Kenyans, and supporting the rollout of Kenya’s newly launched AI Strategy,” he said.
The government is eager to finalize a majority of the deals targeted during President William Ruto’s current state visit to China, aiming to bring many of the above projects to fruition.