President William Ruto has secured investment deals worth Sh107 billion from Chinese firms during his ongoing state visit to Beijing, China, marking a major step in Kenya’s economic transformation agenda. The agreements were signed on Wednesday during the Kenya-China Business Forum, jointly organised by Kenya’s Ministry of Trade, KenInvest Authority, and the Chinese government.
The deals span key sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and technology, and are expected to significantly boost job creation and accelerate economic growth.
Leading the investment commitments is China Wuyi, which will pump Sh19.5 billion into the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on a 191-acre parcel in Kikambala, Kilifi. The project, benefiting from government SEZ incentives, is expected to generate over 5,000 jobs.
In Kajiado, Penfeng Investment Limited and Shangcheng Apparel Group will jointly invest Sh2.6 billion in textile, garment, and solar factory warehouses. Additionally, Shandong Jialejia Agriculture will set up a 500,000-hen egg farm worth Sh3.9 billion, leveraging Kenya’s zero-rated hatchery egg import policy.
Rongtai Steel Limited will invest Sh19.5 billion in a steel production plant in Lukenya, which will support the country’s affordable housing agenda and create 700 jobs.
Baringo is set to become a biotechnology hub with Zonken Group’s Sh41.6 billion investment in an aloe vera processing facility and an additional Sh10.4 billion in a vineyard to grow grape exports.
The hospitality sector also received a boost as Huatian Hotel Group committed Sh39 billion to acquiring and leasing hotels in Nairobi, capitalising on the country’s new visa-free entry policy. In Murang’a, Kenya Smart Transportation Industry Park and Anhui Jiubao Electronic Technology will build a Sh6.5 billion factory to produce smart traffic technology, creating another 5,000 jobs.
Ruto also witnessed KenInvest form partnerships with three Chinese institutions, including the China-Africa Development Fund and Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, aimed at expanding e-commerce and attracting more investors.
With incentives such as a 10-year tax holiday and investor-friendly regulations, Ruto reiterated Kenya’s openness to global investors and invited them to the 2026 Nairobi Investor Conference, positioning Kenya as East Africa’s investment gateway.
