NAIROBI, Kenya — China’s ambassador to Kenya met with top officials from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on Wednesday, in what both sides described as a renewed effort to strengthen party-to-party relations and expand political dialogue between Beijing and Nairobi.
The closed-door talks took place at the UDA’s headquarters in Nairobi. Ambassador Guo Haiyan was received by UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire and Secretary-General Hassan Omar. The three held wide-ranging discussions aimed at reinforcing cooperation between China’s Communist Party (CPC) and the UDA, which leads Kenya’s governing coalition.
“We expressed our commitment to actively implement the consensus reached by our leaders,” Ambassador Guo said after the meeting. “We aim to deepen collaboration in areas such as party governance and experience sharing.”
The tone was warm, and the messaging clear: China wants to keep close ties not only with Kenya’s government, but with the political machinery that powers it.
The UDA, in a statement issued later, confirmed that the discussions also touched on broader development partnerships. Ambassador Guo reportedly praised flagship government projects such as the Affordable Housing Programme and Taifa Care a health insurance initiative calling them “revolutionary” for their focus on public welfare.
China has long maintained a strong presence in Kenya through infrastructure funding and trade. But in recent years, Beijing has widened its scope to include political exchanges. These relationships, often built around the CPC’s global outreach strategy, offer a platform for party-level diplomacy that complements state-to-state ties.
“This meeting followed the UDA Secretary-General’s recent visit to China,” the party noted. “It builds on ongoing cooperation and looks at how to implement agreed areas of partnership.”
Also present were senior UDA staff including Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, Communications Director Rob Jillo, and Special Advisor Sebastian Mwangangi. From the Chinese delegation, Counsellor Sun Yinan and First Secretary Li Dezheng accompanied the ambassador.
While critics of China’s growing influence in Africa often raise concerns about political interference or one-sided economic deals, Kenyan officials have continued to welcome Beijing’s engagement. They argue that collaboration with China brings practical benefits particularly in development financing, skills exchange, and policy innovation.
For now, both sides are keen to keep the momentum going.
“Both parties affirmed their commitment to continued collaboration within the framework of mutual respect and strategic partnership,” the UDA statement read.
It is a quiet but deliberate diplomacy less about grand announcements, and more about steady alignment. And as Kenya positions itself as a key regional player, these conversations behind closed doors may shape more than just party policy.
