Deputy President Kithure Kindiki speaking at the High-Level Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi on March 23, 2026/ DPCS

Kenya is looking to expand trade with China in order to cut the
trade deficit, which currently stands at slightly over 500 billion shillings,
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.

The DP said the two countries have enjoyed stronger relations
since Kenya gained independence in 1963, but the trade deficit has remained
wide. He pushed for exploitation of new business frontiers to close the gap.

“Our shared objective is to expand Kenya’s
exports to the Chinese market, particularly value-added agricultural products,
scale up the value chain, increase manufacturing cooperation, and strive to move
towards a more balanced trade between our two economies,” DP said.

The Deputy President spoke on Monday when he
addressed the High-Level Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi, also attended by
China Vice President Han Zheng.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with China Vice President Han Zheng at the High-Level Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi on March 23, 2026/ DPCS

Prof. Kindiki said targeted interventions in
agriculture have increased production in the key subsectors such as coffee,
tea, avocados, macadamia, and others calling for more focus on these areas to
improve exports to the Asian country.

“Kenya has the best coffee in the world, the best tea in the
world. Kenya is the largest producer of avocados in Africa and the second-largest producer of macadamia in the continent. I would like to request our Chinese friends to consider
increasing their imports of coffee, tea, avocados, nuts, fish, and fish products,
among others,” DP stated.

Kenya’s exports to China stand at USD 0.21 billion and imports
from China at USD 4.32 billion, creating a trade deficit of around USD 4
billion.

In a bid to address this, President Ruto and his Chinese
counterpart Xi Jinping signed a Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for
Shared Development in April 2025 that will see Kenyan products get access to
the huge Chinese market at zero tariff from May 1, 2026.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with China Vice President
Han Zheng, among other leaders at the High-Level Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi on March 23,
2026/ DPCS

The DP challenged the private sector to take advantage of the
zero-tariff agreement, saying access to the 1.4 billion people of China has been
made easier and more valuable.

“We are looking forward to exploiting to the maximum the gesture
of the zero-tariff opportunity to take our tariffs to Kenya,” DP noted.

Later, the Deputy President together with the Vice President
flagged-off the first consignment of exports to China set to benefit from the
zero-tariff agreement at the Nairobi Railway Terminus.

Prof. Kindiki said the first cargo symbolized the growing
economic cooperation between Kenya and China and the expanding opportunities
for Kenyan exporters.

“We look forward to seeing many more Kenyan products reaching
Chinese consumers in the years ahead and advancing our shared priorities in
trade, investment, and sustainable development,” he said.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with China Vice President
Han Zheng at the High-Level Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi on March 23,
2026/DPCS

The initial consignment comprised of 54 containers carrying
avocados, avocado oil, hides and skins, coffee beans, dry grains, pet pellets,
and recycling materials.

Additionally, the Deputy President appreciated China’s
contribution to the growth of the country’s infrastructure, noting the
advancement in the Kenyan railway sector, which has been achieved through the
Asian nation’s support.

“The cooperation between Kenya and China under the Belt and Road
Initiative has contributed significantly to improving logistics and transport
networks, including the development of the Standard Gauge Railway, which has
strengthened the movement of goods between production centers, the port of
Mombasa, and global markets,” he emphasized.

The SGR is set to be extended to Kisumu and Malaba in the coming
days through a similar initiative.

China Vice President
Han Zheng speaking at the High-Level Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi on March 23,
2026/ DPCS