The Kenyan government led by President William Ruto is actively seeking financing from China to resume stalled infrastructure projects, specifically the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit dual carriageway.

• Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed advanced negotiations for these projects, crucial for enhancing trade with Uganda and the Great Lakes region ahead of the 2027 elections.
• The SGR extension from Naivasha to the Uganda border, estimated at nearly Sh500 billion, had its previous funding halted by the China Export-Import Bank.
• The Ruto administration proposes a new financing structure, offering to fund 30 per cent of the project cost.
• The 175-kilometre Rironi-Mau Summit road, a notorious bottleneck, is also a priority; a prior Sh190 billion deal for expansion with a French consortium was cancelled in April 2024.
• Despite concerns about the SGR’s high cost and lack of “last-mile” connectivity, the government views these projects as vital for regional trade facilitation.