Kenya's ruling party looks to CPC for governance lessons, deeper relations

Kenya's ruling United Democratic Alliance has committed to deepening collaboration with the Communist Party of China to build stronger institutions, enhance discipline in public leadership and combat corruption.

UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar said that structured party-to-party cooperation with the CPC offers Kenya an opportunity to cultivate an ideological foundation anchored in public service and national development.

The remark points to the Kenyan government's shift toward Global South cooperation, moving away from the blanket application of Western political models that have frequently failed to deliver desired outcomes.

Speaking in Kenyan capital Nairobi about Xi Jinping: The Governance of China — a collection of speeches and written works by the Chinese president — Omar stressed the importance of linking academia with politics, describing the Chinese model as one where research and institutions actively inform governance.

"To see the academia here, it's a step in the right direction. There must be a nexus between academia and politics, and that's the nexus China has. Kenya has historically struggled with untested political theories due to weak institutional research frameworks," he said.

Kenyan President William Ruto's creation of the Economic Front think tank aims to address the gap, Omar said, adding the president's address at Peking University during his visit to China in April laid a foundation for aligning Kenya's strategic foreign policy more closely with the Global South.

"We believe as the UDA government that our future and our partnership is largely tied to Asia-Pacific and Africa, because we have extremely common experiences," he said.

Omar described the book as more than a collection of speeches, but rather an intellectual framework rooted in China's national realities, cultural foundations and historical experience.

The book encourages Kenya to develop "governance with Kenyan characteristics", instead of what he termed a "desperate attempt" to replicate Western governance models that are often misaligned with local contexts.

Omar highlighted the pillars of China's governance philosophy outlined in the book, including disciplined leadership, long-term planning, technological innovation and the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The principles resonate strongly with Kenya's Vision 2030 and the bottom-up economic transformation agenda, he said.

Strategic security

Omar also echoed calls by regional leaders of the Global South to expand cooperation beyond development into strategic security, highlighting China's growing capabilities in this area as an example of comprehensive national strength.

"The Global South must not only partner on development, but also on strategic security," he said, describing China as a global power whose experience holds lessons for developing countries.

The translation of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China into multiple languages, including Swahili, demonstrates China's intention to engage the world through intellectual exchange, not just trade and investment, he said.

"We must build a software of friendship and ideology, even as we pursue development. Africa should look to China and other Global South partners not only for infrastructure financing, but for ideas that help redefine global power relations."

The UDA-CPC partnership, strengthened through high-level engagements, exchanges and governance training programs, reflects a shared understanding — political parties play a central role in national transformation, Omar said.

Through cooperation, Kenya hopes to learn from China's experience in strengthening party discipline, building institutional capacity, promoting internal democracy and nurturing leaders who serve with integrity and patriotism.

Omar said this learning does not imply imitation, but adaptation.

"Every country must walk its own path," he said.

Kenya remains committed to sustaining its infrastructure ambition through innovative financing models, public-private partnerships and regional energy integration, he said.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is closely aligned with Kenya's Vision 2030. Flagship projects such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, road networks and port upgrades have boosted connectivity, created jobs and strengthened Kenya's position as a regional commercial hub."

Recalling his visit to Southeast China's Fujian province, where Xi once served in local leadership, Omar said the experience illustrates how ideas discussed in books are translated into practical governance and tangible development outcomes in China.

As Africa stands at a defining moment, Omar urged the continent to be an active participant in shaping global governance, rather than a passive recipient of external models.

"In this regard, the concept of a shared future for humanity invites Africa to take its rightful place at the center of global dialogue," he said.

victor@chinadailyafrica.com