President William Ruto has secured seven major investment deals with Chinese firms as he continues to push for deeper economic ties between Nairobi and Beijing.
Speaking at the Kenya-China Investor Roundtable in Beijing, President Ruto announced that the agreements, signed with a mix of Chinese manufacturing, industrial, agricultural, and hospitality firms, will inject vital capital into Kenya’s economy and create thousands of job opportunities for Kenyan youth.
“China’s private sector has been instrumental in driving Kenya’s economic growth over the years through their investments in various sectors of our economy. We endeavour to encourage even greater participation of China’s private sector into our journey of economic transformation, which in turn, will create thousands of jobs for our youth,” President Ruto stated.
The deals span a wide range of sectors — from manufacturing and textile production to agro-processing, traffic technology, steel manufacturing, and hotel acquisition. They signal a renewed confidence in Kenya’s business environment as an investment destination on the continent.
Breakdown of the Seven Mega Deals
China Wu Yi – Kikambala Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
Investment: $150 million
Jobs: 5,000
The firm plans to establish a Special Economic Zone in Kilifi County dedicated to manufacturing, processing, and warehousing. The project is expected to transform the coast region into a key industrial hub.
Chongqing Shancheng/Pengfeng
Investment: $20 million (part of a larger $300 million plan over the next decade)
Jobs: 7,000
This investment will fund textile, garment, and solar power factories in Murang’a and Athi River, creating thousands of jobs while boosting Kenya’s apparel export capacity.
Rongtai Steel – Expansion & R&D in Lukenya
Investment: $100 million
Jobs: 3,000
Rongtai Steel will expand its steel plant in Machakos County and set up a state-of-the-art research and development centre. The deal is poised to strengthen Kenya’s domestic steel production capacity and reduce reliance on imports.
Anhui Jiubao – Smart Traffic Components (Mombasa)
Investment: $50 million
Jobs: 5,000
The company will construct a factory for traffic technology components in Mombasa, with an additional 50 acres identified for development in Murang’a. The project aligns with Kenya’s push for smart infrastructure and intelligent transport systems.
Shandong Jialejia – Poultry & Feed Plant (Kajiado)
Investment: $30 million
Jobs: 500
This agribusiness venture will see the establishment of a hen-laying, breeding, and feed factory with a capacity for 500,000 hens in Kajiado County, bolstering food security and creating rural employment opportunities.
Zonken Group – Aloe & Vineyard Project (Baringo)
Investment: $400 million
Jobs: 5,000
The single largest investment in the batch, this ambitious project will introduce large-scale aloe cultivation and processing alongside grape and apple seedling nurseries in Baringo County, marking a major agricultural diversification drive in the region.
Huatian Hotels – Hotel Acquisition in Nairobi
Investment: $23 million
Huatian Hotels plans to acquire or lease existing hotels in Nairobi, strengthening Kenya’s hospitality and tourism offering amid a post-pandemic recovery in international travel.