As global trade tensions continue to escalate, President William Ruto finds himself in a diplomatic dilemma, no longer at ease. In April 2025, Ruto visited China to push for reduced tariffs for Kenyan exports, including coffee and tea.
Then he went forth to secure a longstanding security alliance with the United States, placing him at loggerheads with the latter.
So far, his contradicting stance has received criticisms from Washington, US, with Senator Jim Risch throwing an almost-direct jab at Ruto’s double-standards position during a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in May 2025.
“Relying on leaders who are openly embracing Beijing is a big mistake. It is time to re-examine our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China.” Jim declared.
According to Sen. Jim, the remarks that Ruto made during his Beijing visit, that ‘Kenya and China are co-architects of a new world’ depict more than just alignment, but total allegiance.
Diplomatic observers think that Ruto’s impasse reflects the longstanding US versus China rivalry in the race to dominate Africa, and that Kenya is at risk of losing major diplomatic benefits such as the duty-free access provided under AGOA, which in 2025, supported annual exports totalling $600 million.
So far, Kenyan officials have come out to support Ruto’s stance, emphasising neutrality.
“President Ruto is talking about collective ownership. America is a major power, as is China; the two nations are equally important to our nation. What President Ruto is doing is not a deviation from Kenya’s policy to the detriment of any Kenyan. We are not here to play a nation against another.” Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi said.
According to some political commentators like Nelson Koech, Ruto’s stance is apt;
“Kenya is asking for the same, not to dismantle multilateralism but recreate it on principles of shared ownership and equity”.
However, some critical watchers are sceptical about Ruto’s position. They see potential fallout.
“President Ruto is making a huge foreign policy mistake. He is trying to balance China & America, & he will lose one of them, & when he does, there’s a lot to pay,” said Ahmed Hashi, a Kenyan commentator.
Ruto’s dilemma highlights a typical challenge crippling Africa in a multipolar world.
