National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has praised the recently concluded trade pact between Kenya and China, calling it a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen the country’s economic prospects.

The agreement, unveiled during President William Ruto’s official visit to Beijing, will see tariffs and duties on Kenyan goods exported to China scrapped opening up new market opportunities for local producers.

Speaking to congregants in Lugari on Sunday, June 15, 2025, during a church service, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula commended the new Kenya-China trade deal, emphasizing its potential to create substantial opportunities for local producers and youth.

“This marks a turning point for our country. With tariffs and taxes on our exports to China now removed, Kenyan farmers, manufacturers, and service providers can tap into a vast international market,” Wetang’ula said.

He noted that the agreement paves the way for easier access to Chinese markets for key agricultural exports such as tea, coffee, flowers, and fruits boosting income for growers and improving trade volumes.

Beyond individual businesses, Wetang’ula pointed out that the trade pact will have a ripple effect on the wider economy. “This isn’t just a win for exporters it strengthens our overall economic standing by encouraging foreign trade and investment,” he added.

He urged Kenyan businesspeople to take advantage of the expanded market access and grow their enterprises beyond national borders.

Wetang’ula also stressed the importance of national cohesion in unlocking the full benefits of such agreements. “To make the most of this deal, unity is key. Leaders and citizens alike must work hand in hand to drive the country forward,” he said.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has urged fellow lawmakers to take the lead in driving development and bridging political divides to achieve shared national objectives.

“As legislators, it’s our duty to create an environment that supports progress. This requires us to rise above partisan politics and prioritize policies that uplift all Kenyans,” he said during his address in Lugari on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

His sentiments echo his consistent push for unity in the Western region. Back in December 2023, Wetang’ula called on leaders from the region to stand together as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.

He warned that continued disunity would only serve to weaken the region's political influence and benefit other parts of the country.

“Our biggest setback as a region has been our inability to unite,” the Speaker remarked. “When you engage leaders from Mount Kenya, Nyanza, Rift Valley, or Ukambani, they speak with one voice. But in Western, democracy thrives in every corner.”

Wetang’ula’s appeal for solidarity has been reinforced by other Western leaders. Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa voiced his support, affirming

Kenya has secured over Ksh.126 billion in new agreements aimed at driving key initiatives under the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

The funding will be channeled into priority sectors, with Ksh.41.4 billion allocated to manufacturing, Ksh.55.6 billion to agriculture, and Ksh.29.7 billion earmarked for other development projects.

China continues to play a central role in Kenya’s infrastructure growth through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) President Xi Jinping’s flagship program launched in 2013 to expand China’s global economic and strategic footprint through large-scale infrastructure investments.

Kenya remains one of the leading African beneficiaries of the BRI and has taken on significant Chinese loans to finance major infrastructure developments, making China its largest bilateral creditor.

Among the flagship projects supported through this partnership is the construction of a modern railway line extending from the port city of Mombasa into Kenya’s interior, aimed at boosting trade and regional connectivity.