(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Kenya’s imports from China rose by 34.7% in the first five months of 2026, as key infrastructure projects under President William Ruto’s administration moved into construction or preparation stages.
China’s exports to Kenya climbed to KES 336.2 billion between January and May, from KES 249.5 billion in the same period last year, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. That lifted China’s share of Kenya’s import market to a record 25.3%. The figures are about $2.59 billion and £2.05 billion, up from $1.92 billion and £1.52 billion.
China’s share has climbed steeply in three years, from 16.6% in January to May 2023 to 19.1% in 2024 and 22.5% last year, before reaching the current level.
The increase this year outpaced growth in the overall import bill, which rose by 19.8% to KES 1.33 trillion from KES 1.11 trillion during the same period last year. That is about $10.26 billion and £8.12 billion, up from $8.56 billion and £6.77 billion.
According to the statistics agency, China accounted for KES 86.6 billion of the KES 220.3 billion rise in Kenya’s total import spending. That represented nearly two fifths of the additional imports in the review period.
The acceleration comes as Chinese contractors mobilise for road, railway and stadium projects, creating demand for machinery, steel, construction materials and other industrial inputs.
Kenya’s import basket from China has in recent years largely included flat rolled iron and non alloy steel products, other steel products, electronics and telecommunications equipment, printed circuits and phone and data transmission apparatus. Crushing and grinding machinery also featured prominently, according to an analysis of the statistics data as captured by the Kenya Revenue Authority. This reflects demand for equipment used in construction, manufacturing and other activities.
The jump came at a time when major projects involving Chinese companies have either entered construction, reached mobilisation stages or are being prepared for implementation.
Among them is the KES 96 billion first phase of the Rironi Mau Summit road, awarded to China Road and Bridge Corporation in partnership with the National Social Security Fund. That is about $740 million and £586 million. The project is expected to require large quantities of construction equipment, steel and other industrial inputs. The contract was awarded in November last year.
Another major project is the 475 kilometre standard gauge railway extension from Naivasha to Malaba, awarded to China Communications Construction Company and China Road and Bridge Corporation.
President Ruto and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni presided over the groundbreaking in March, signalling the start of preparations for the cross border transport project. The contractors were to undertake pre construction mobilisation between April and June, immediately before the period Kenya recorded the latest surge in Chinese imports.
Chinese contractors are also working to complete the KES 45 billion 60,000 seater Talanta stadium. That is about $347 million and £274 million. The stadium, being built with Chinese construction expertise, is expected to be completed in early 2027, adding another major project to the pipeline.
The projects come on top of other infrastructure works where Chinese companies have established a significant presence in Kenya’s roads, railways and construction sectors.
The growing infrastructure pipeline appears to have provided a fresh source of demand for Chinese machinery, construction materials, electrical gadgets and other manufactured inputs.
Statistics data show the trend of demand for Chinese machinery, construction materials, electrical equipment and other manufactured inputs was already visible last year, when imports from the world’s second largest economy increased by 16.5% to KES 671.2 billion from KES 576.1 billion in 2024. That is about $5.18 billion and £4.10 billion, up from $4.44 billion and £3.51 billion.
The statistics agency attributed the 2025 increase partly to higher imports of industrial and construction related goods, including crushing and grinding machines, iron and steel and chemical fertiliser.
The agency said there were increased imports of crushing and grinding machines, chemical fertiliser, knitted or crocheted fabrics, containers for compressed or liquefied gas, and iron and steel from China.
The figures suggest the momentum has strengthened this year, with Chinese imports growing more than twice as fast as they did during the comparable period last year. China’s shipments increased by KES 86.6 billion in the January to May period, compared with a KES 33.9 billion rise during the same period in 2025.