People try an electric bike exhibited by a Chinese company at the 9th Kenya International Industrial Expo in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday. LIU QIONG/XINHUA
Kenya is seeking to attract Chinese investors to establish manufacturing plants in the country as it accelerates industrialization and pursues the goals of its newly launched Vision 2060, which seeks to transform the economy into a high-income, industrialized nation.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the three-day ninth Kenya International Industrial Expo and Kenya Investment & Trade Fair 2026 in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday, Pius Rotich, director of manufacturing sector investments at the Kenya Investment Authority, said Kenya is positioning itself as a competitive investment destination for Chinese businesses seeking to expand their presence in Africa.
"China has shown a strong, enduring commitment to Kenya, strong growing investment in infrastructure cooperation, and today, Kenya is committed to deepening these relations," he said.
Rotich said establishing factories in Kenya would help strengthen local manufacturing capacity while promoting Kenya's exports to China. China is already the biggest trading partner and source of direct investment for Kenya. Manufacturing has been a focus of bilateral economic cooperation in recent years, with Chinese companies setting up manufacturing bases across Kenya covering sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and machinery equipment.
