Kenya–Taiwan relations

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Kenyan–Taiwanese relations

Kenya
Taiwan

Kenya–Taiwan relations refers to the bilateral relations between Kenya (formally the Republic of Kenya) and Taiwan (formally the Republic of China, ROC). Kenya does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, adhering instead to the One China policy, but maintains certain forms of interaction in business, aid, trade promotion, and technical cooperation.

History

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Kenya has historically aligned with the One China policy, recognizing the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and rejecting any claims of Taiwanese independence.[1]

In recent years, Kenya and Taiwan have engaged in technical cooperation in healthcare and trade or business promotion activities, though always under the constraints of Kenya’s non-recognition of Taiwan.[2]

Economic relations and trade

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  • Taiwan enterprises, through channels like the Taiwan Trade Center in Nairobi, organise business promotion events. For example, the "Taiwan BrandTech Inspired Business Connect Breakfast Meeting” (September 2024) was organised by the Taiwan Trade Centre in Kenya, enabling Kenyan businesses to network with Taiwanese machinery, manufacturing, and technology firms.[3]
  • Kenya is among African nations participating in Taiwan-led agricultural training programs. For example, in July 2024, Kenya was included among participants in the African Elites Program hosted in Pingtung, Taiwan, for three-week training in agriculture and friendly farming techniques.[4]

Development and humanitarian cooperation

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Representative offices and trade missions

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  • The Taiwan Trade Center, Nairobi exists to promote Taiwanese goods and facilitate business connections in Kenya and the East African region.
  • The Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association in Kenya was founded in March 2023 by Taiwanese agencies including the Taiwan Trade Center Nairobi to support Taiwanese businesspeople in Kenya.[6]

Political posture and recognition policy

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Kenya explicitly reaffirms the One China principle. In state visits and bilateral declarations, Kenya has stated that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.[7][8]

Controversies

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In April 2016, relations between Taiwan and Kenya were strained after Kenyan authorities deported a group of Taiwanese citizens to mainland China despite a Kenyan court order allowing their return to Taiwan. Five Taiwanese nationals, who had been acquitted of organized crime charges along with 35 Chinese citizens, were placed on a flight to Beijing. [9]

Taiwanese officials described the deportation as an "extrajudicial abduction", stating that the group had been forced onto a plane by Kenyan police using rifles and tear gas. Chinese authorities claimed the suspects were involved in telecoms fraud targeting Chinese citizens and should therefore be tried in China. [10]

The Kenyan government received praise from China for supporting the One China policy following the deportations.[11] In 2025, similar deportations of Taiwanese fraud suspects from Malaysia and Cambodia to China later drew additional protests from Taiwan.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ngano, Walter (24 April 2025). "Kenya Supports China, Refuses to Recognise Taiwan's Independence". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Taiwan's World-Class Healthcare System Offers Insights for Kenya's Ongoing Reforms". Techish Kenya. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  3. ^ "The Taiwan BrandTech Inspired Business Connect Breakfast Meeting". Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Taiwan, Africa strengthen ties with agriculture training". TVBS News. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Taiwan to help children's rights group in Kenya". Taipei Times. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  6. ^ Lu, Yi-hsuan; Hetherington, William (10 March 2023). "Group to aid Taiwanese businesspeople in Kenya". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Kenya reaffirms position on one-China principle". China Daily. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Kenya Backs China, Rejects Taiwan Independence in Diplomatic Tightrope Walk". Switch TV Kenya. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Taiwan protests against 'forced' deportation of citizens from Kenya to China". BBC News. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  10. ^ "More Taiwanese nationals deported from Kenya to China". CNN. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  11. ^ Thim, Michal (12 April 2016). "No ulterior motive: Taiwanese extradition case was just badly handled by Beijing". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  12. ^ Lee, I-chia (15 April 2025). "MOFA protests against Cambodia sending Taiwanese fraud suspects to China". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
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