Recent revelations suggest that China's maritime connection with Kenya predates British colonization, highlighting a long-standing relationship that dates back to the early 15th century.

• Admiral Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty led expeditions from 1405 to 1433, reaching the Swahili coast including areas like Malindi and Mombasa.
• Dr Mwamaka Sharifu discovered through her grandmother's stories that Chinese sailors intermarried with locals after shipwrecks near Pate Island.
• Archaeologists have searched for remnants of Zheng He's ships since 2010 to confirm the historic ties between China and East Africa.