Kenyan President William Ruto has asked for China’s support for the East African nation’s bid to join BRICS, his office announced on Monday, following a meeting with a senior Chinese official.
The move comes just weeks after Russia hosted the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, which drew delegations from several countries and has been widely seen as a snub to the West and a signal that Russia has not been isolated by Ukraine-related sanctions. The annual gathering was the first since the group’s expansion earlier this year, when Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates officially became members, joining Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
According to estimates by global financial institutions, current BRICS member countries account for around 46% of the world’s population and over 36% of global GDP. Analysts have been urging Kenya’s government to join the economic bloc since Ethiopia and Egypt became members, with several other African countries, including Algeria and Nigeria, expressing formal interest.
Despite being a key US ally, Kenya has sought to strengthen ties with China and Russia, whose growing presence in Africa has sparked concerns in the West. Last year, Ruto said his government will deepen its relations with Moscow in order to increase trade volumes. He made the commitment when he hosted visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the capital, Nairobi.
On Monday, during talks with Li Xi, the secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the ruling Communist Party of China, Ruto commended Beijing for funding “priority projects,” including a multibillion-dollar dam.
He stated that Nairobi is “eager to reap the benefits of the projects” which will help alleviate poverty. The country has been experiencing a cost-of-living crisis in recent years, with the government looking for ways to increase revenue after violent protests forced the withdrawal of a finance bill aimed at raising $2.7 billion in taxes.
“Kenya seeks China’s support to encourage Chinese private sector investment in Kenya’s hospitality sector, furthering our aim to make Nairobi a regional convention hub,” Ruto said, according to a press release from the presidency.
“Kenya is committed to promoting this partnership in Africa and upholding the One-China policy,” he added.