Kenyan President William Ruto is making bold moves to position Kenya as a member of BRICS, seeking China’s backing to join the influential bloc of emerging economies.
In a Tuesday meeting in Nairobi, Ruto directly requested support from Li Xi, a high-ranking official in China’s Communist Party.
The push for BRICS membership marks Kenya’s attempt to align with countries challenging the dominance of Western political and economic influence, according to a now-deleted statement from Ruto’s office.
This bid comes at a time when BRICS is expanding its membership and strategic clout.
Just weeks ago, Russia hosted a high-profile BRICS summit in Kazan, drawing a significant global audience and highlighting Russia’s engagement with emerging economies despite Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.
The bloc recently welcomed Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE into its fold, joining established members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Despite its longstanding alliance with the U.S., Kenya has shown a growing interest in building closer ties with both China and Russia.
In fact, Kenya has been vocally critical of Russia over its actions in Ukraine, yet Ruto has not shied away from nurturing trade and diplomatic channels with Moscow.
President Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki meets with Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by Li Xi at State House Nairobi
Last year, during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Ruto pledged to boost Kenya-Russia trade relations, a stance highlighted this week when Kenya’s new ambassador to Russia, Peter Mathuki, presented his credentials to President Vladimir Putin.
Although Kenya was represented at the BRICS summit in South Africa earlier this year, Ruto notably declined to attend.
According to Kenyan officials, his decision stemmed from a reluctance to “rub shoulders” with leaders who rose to power through military coups.
Kenya’s top foreign policy official, Sing’oei Korir, confirmed last year that Ruto’s absence was intentional, highlightingKenya’s unique stance even as it pursues closer ties with the BRICS bloc.
As more African nations explore alternatives to traditional Western financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank, Ruto’s pursuit of BRICS membership reflects a broader interest in reducing dependency on these lenders and enhancing trade and economic partnerships with other emerging economies.
Kenya’s outreach to China for support in its BRICS bid signifies a strategic shift aimed at deepening its influence in global alliances and securing new economic pathways for the future.
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