Kalonzo: I’ll Use Relationship With Xi to Renegotiate Kenya’s Debt
Kalonzo said Xi had previously told him that he would visit Kenya when he became President, recalling a meeting between the two leaders when he served as Vice President.
NAIROBI, Kenya - Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has stated that his established rapport with Chinese President Xi Jinping could facilitate potential renegotiation of Kenya's debt obligations should he secure the presidency in 2027. Musyoka mentioned that President Xi had expressed beforehand his intention to visit Kenya should he be elected as the nation's leader, recalling a previous encounter when Musyoka was serving as Vice President.
"Talk to President Xi Jinping. When I was Vice President, I met up with him. And he actually said, the only time I come to Kenya is when you are the president," Kalonzo told NTV's Fixing the Nation. He noted China's recent visit to Tanzania without a stopover in Kenya as a possible affirmation of his words. The Wiper Party leader proposed immediate dialogues with Kenya's primary creditors to restructure the nation's debt burden.
He argued that Kenya could not sustainably meet its debt obligations when its government revenue consistently lags behind the country's overall public debt. Musyoka suggested direct bilateral negotiations with creditors such as China, in addition to engaging with the United States and other international partners. Kenya's public debt has been placing significant pressure on government finances, with a large portion of annual revenue being devoted to servicing debt.
Musyoka described his approach as addressing existing debts rather than continuing to rely on borrowing to fund government programs. He cited the Limuru-Mau Summit Road project as an example of costly government decisions, stating that taxpayers faced penalties exceeding Sh6 billion due to the cancellation of a contract involving a French company and the subsequent awarding of the project to a Chinese firm.
Musyoka also highlighted his diplomatic engagements, such as a recent meeting with the outgoing French ambassador, as evidence of his ability to utilize international relationships for negotiating major economic and development agreements. His proposal to renegotiate existing debt obligations and strengthen diplomatic ties with Kenya's creditors came as the 2027 political campaign intensified, with opposition leaders presenting contrasting economic plans to compete with President William Ruto's administration.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
