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Kenya and China are deepening their collaboration in law enforcement, security, and border management, aiming to combat transnational crimes and enhance Kenya's institutional capacity.
Kenya and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in law enforcement, security, and border management. This renewed partnership seeks to bolster bilateral relations and enhance Kenya's institutional capacity to address evolving security challenges and promote regional stability.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, paid a courtesy call on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday, October 6, 2025, where discussions focused on expanding collaboration in security and combating transnational crimes. Ambassador Guo stated that the meeting addressed strengthening cooperation in law enforcement and security.
Cabinet Secretary Murkomen welcomed the discussions, emphasising the ongoing deepening of socio-cultural and economic partnerships between Kenya and China, anchored on mutual respect and shared development interests. He highlighted that the talks explored expanding cooperation in key areas, including security infrastructure and joint efforts to curb transnational crimes.
This latest engagement builds on a series of high-level interactions and agreements between Kenya and China. In April 2025, President William Ruto's state visit to China resulted in a broad agreement to strengthen partnerships across trade, infrastructure development, and security. During this visit, both nations upgraded their diplomatic relationship and pledged to forge an "all-weather" China-Africa community.
Kenya has consistently expressed interest in leveraging Chinese technology and expertise to improve its security systems, including the e-Citizen platform and border security management. Interior Cabinet Secretary Murkomen previously met with a delegation from China's Guangdong Province in April 2025, led by Vice Governor Liu Guozhou, to discuss these areas.
The enhanced cooperation aims to strengthen Kenya's capacity to address diverse security threats, including terrorism, cyberattacks, and transnational crime. Kenya has also sought China's support in modernising police equipment and enhancing command, control, and communication programmes.
Specific areas of collaboration include defence, counter-terrorism, joint training, and combating crimes such as human trafficking, cybercrime, and environmental crime. Both countries plan to sign a memorandum of understanding between their law enforcement agencies to facilitate closer collaboration in these areas and build law enforcement capacity.
Kenyan officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo, have consistently underscored the importance of this partnership. Dr. Omollo, speaking at the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang, China, in September 2023, highlighted Kenya's commitment to engaging in candid conversations with China for sustainable peace, security, and development cooperation.
President William Ruto has previously thanked China for its security support, including direct financial commitments to peace initiatives and the work of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. He has also called for sustained support for African Union-led peace initiatives to restore stability in the region.
While the partnership offers significant benefits in enhancing Kenya's security capabilities, concerns have been raised in the past regarding China's authoritarian approach to policing and its compatibility with Kenyan laws protecting free speech and human rights. Analysts suggest that the development could influence near-term public debate and policy execution, with stakeholders urging clarity on timelines, costs, and safeguards.
Further details on specific projects, funding mechanisms, and implementation timelines for the enhanced security cooperation are anticipated. The modalities of expanding cooperation in security infrastructure and joint efforts to curb transnational crimes will be key areas to monitor. The impact of Chinese technology and training on Kenya's security systems and human rights considerations will also remain a significant point of interest.
