China deepens military ties with Kenya as Nairobi hosts PLA anniversary

China has pledged to deepen defence and security cooperation with Kenya and African countries, saying it remains committed to military diplomacy, peacekeeping and counterterrorism partnerships.

Kenya welcomed the growing partnership, with Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen John Omenda saying the Ministry of Defence remains committed to deepening cooperation in ways that respond to the two countries' national security priorities.

The renewed commitment was made on Tuesday during celebrations in Nairobi marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The fete was attended by senior Kenyan military, government and police officials as well as diplomats.

Omenda led the Kenyan delegation, alongside Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and military representatives from several countries.

"The long-standing mutually beneficial defence relations between Kenya and the People's Republic of China have continued to grow through military diplomacy, training, equipment support, collaborative support operations, disaster response and humanitarian assistance," Omenda said.

The event came at a time when China is increasingly positioning itself as a strategic partner for Africa.

The deepening ties are no longer confined to infrastructure and trade but are increasingly extending to peace and security.

China Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said Beijing considers Africa a critical pillar of global peace and stability.

She pledged continued support to strengthen the continent's capacity in peacekeeping, counterterrorism, maritime security, disaster response and public health.

"Africa is an important force for maintaining world peace and stability and a key pillar of cooperation and development in the Global South," Guo said.

She said China respects African countries' right to choose their own development paths.

The envoy said Beijing will continue supporting the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the continental initiative to Silence the Guns.

The ambassador singled out Kenya as a key regional security partner, citing the country's role in peace processes, United Nations peacekeeping operations, humanitarian interventions and the fight against terrorism.

"China highly appreciates Kenya's active participation in regional peace processes, United Nations peacekeeping operations, counterterrorism and humanitarian affairs," she said.

Guo said the two countries have steadily expanded cooperation in personnel training, peacekeeping, maritime security, emergency response and counterterrorism.

She said the partnership has contributed to peace and stability in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

The ambassador said Beijing was ready to further strengthen security cooperation with Nairobi.

Over the last decade, Beijing has significantly increased military exchanges with African countries.

The cooperation has included officer training programmes, defence equipment support, naval visits and joint security initiatives.

China has also become one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions, many of them in Africa.

Chinese Defence Attache Senior Colonel Zhao Peng said the PLA will continue supporting peacekeeping, humanitarian missions and anti-piracy operations.

China has participated in 26 UN peacekeeping missions over the last 36 years and deployed more than 50,000 peacekeepers across more than 20 countries and regions.

According to Zhao, China is now the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

It is also the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.

The PLA has also undertaken disaster relief operations, humanitarian medical missions and anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden while helping evacuate both Chinese and foreign nationals from conflict zones.

"The bilateral military relationship is an important pillar in building the China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era," Zhao said.

He noted that cooperation between the two countries has expanded in personnel training, defence industry collaboration and counterterrorism.

Zhao said the relationship has also been strengthened through increased naval exchanges, revealing that two Chinese naval escort task groups have visited the Port of Mombasa since October last year.

The visits have become part of growing military diplomacy between Nairobi and Beijing as both countries seek closer engagement on maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

China's expanding defence presence in Africa comes amid intensifying geopolitical competition between major global powers seeking greater influence on the continent.

While Beijing insists its military engagement is aimed at promoting peace and development, analysts say defence cooperation has increasingly become an important pillar of China's broader foreign policy across Africa.

China has consistently argued that development and security are inseparable, positioning initiatives such as the Global Security Initiative as alternatives to traditional security alliances.

Guo said the world faces growing geopolitical tensions, terrorism, cyber threats, climate change and public health challenges that require collective responses rather than bloc politics.

She said no country's security should come at the expense of another and called for dialogue, cooperation and respect for national sovereignty.

"Humanity is an indivisible security community," she said.

Guo reiterated that China's defence policy remains defensive in nature, insisting Beijing does not seek hegemony, territorial expansion or spheres of influence.

Instead, she said a stronger Chinese military should be viewed as "a stronger force for world peace."

The anniversary celebrations also highlighted Kenya's growing importance in China's engagement with Africa.