Wetang’ula urges China to help narrow Kenya’s trade deficit through local manufacturing

Nairobi, Kenya - National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has urged China to aid Kenya in narrowing its considerable trade deficit by promoting local manufacturing, technology transfer, and enhancing export prospects. Wetang'ula made these remarks during the 2026 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges in China, emphasizing the need to capitalize on the long-standing partnership between the two nations to foster domestic industries, enhance agricultural value, and generate employment opportunities.

The scale of the trade imbalance is evident in the trade figures he presented. In 2025, Kenya imported goods worth around US$5.19 billion from China, while its exports to China amounted to a mere US$130.8 million. This stark disparity underscores the urgent need for strategic interventions to bridge the gap.

Wetang'ula identified boosting local manufacturing, adding value to agricultural products, and facilitating Kenyan goods' entry into the Chinese market as key areas for collaboration. He underscored the importance of trade, investment, technology transfer, and industrial development, asserting that a strengthened economic relationship should bolster domestic production and improve living standards.

Notably, Wetang'ula highlighted the significance of ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the Standard Gauge Railway, Nairobi Expressway, and Lamu Port, as testaments to the mutual cooperation between Kenya and China. He called for a renewed focus on industrial growth and opportunities for Kenyan producers, emphasizing the potential of sectors like agriculture, clean energy, and technical skills development to broaden economic horizons.

The Speaker also pointed out that the modernization of 144 technical and vocational education and training institutions, along with training 314 trainers through Kenya-China cooperation, could bolster the workforce's skills to support industrialization and adapt to evolving labor-market demands.

However, the central obstacle remains in translating bilateral engagement into tangible benefits, such as increased exports, heightened domestic production, and sustainable employment. Kenya's entry into the Chinese market has also been progressing. In March 2026, the State Department for Trade announced that China had granted approximately 98.2% of Kenyan products duty-free access under an Early Harvest Agreement.

While the agreement is anticipated to stimulate export growth, its success in closing the trade gap will hinge on Kenya's capacity to ramp up production, meet market specifications, and augment the volume and value of goods sold to China.

Wetang'ula emphasized the role of Parliament in fostering policies and partnerships that yield tangible benefits for citizens, viewing legislative diplomacy as a means to advance economic cooperation. "Our aim is to transform the bond between Kenya and China into jobs, inclusive growth, and enduring prosperity," he concluded.