The People’s Republic of China established the diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kenya on December 14, 1963. In 1978, when President Daniel Arap Moi came to power, the relation of the two countries gained a faster development. With frequent mutual visits at high level the friendly cooperation has witnessed outstanding achievements in many fields. By the end of 2002 when a new government was formed after H. E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki was elected President of the country he expressed his high regard and account of the relations between Kenya and China and directed further deepening and expansion of the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Kenya, leaders of importance who visited China from Kenya include: H. E. President Mwai Kibaki in August 2005 on a State Visit and in November 2006 for Sino – Africa Summit, Daniel Arap Moi, President of Kenya (September 1980, October 1988 and May 1994), the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga for the 4th World Urban Forum in November 2008; the Vice President Hon Kalonzo Musyoka for the Olympic Games in August 2008; David Okiki Amayo, Chairman of the Kenya African National Union – the ruling party then, (September 1986), Wilson Ndolo Ayah, Minister of foreign affairs (August 1991), Bonaya Godana, Minister of foreign affairs (April 1999), Francis Ole Kaparo, Speaker of the Kenyan National Assembly (April 2000), and in October 2000 B. Godana, the Kenyan Foreign Minister headed a delegation to attend the "Beijing Ministerial Meeting 2000 of the Sino-African Cooperation Forum".

Chinese leaders and officials who visited Kenya mainly include: President Hu Jintao on a State Visit in April 2006; Zhu Rongji, Premier of the State Council (April 2002); Zhao Ziyang, Premier of the State Council (January 1983); Ji Pengfei, Vice-premier of the State Council (August 1980), Tian Jiyun, Vice-premier (November 1985), Gu Mu, member of the State Council (April 1987), Wu Xueqian, member of the State Council and concurrently minister of foreign affairs (May 1987), Sun Qimeng, Vice-chairman of the NPC (November 1991), Qian Qichen, Vice-premier and concurrently foreign minister (January 1991 in the name of foreign minister, January 1994), Chen Muhua, Vice-chairwoman of the NPC (April 1992), Jiang Zemin, President of the PRC (May 1996), Qian Zhengying, Vice-chairperson of the NPPCC (June 1997), Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs (January 1999), Peng Peiyun, Vice-chairwoman of the NPC and chairwoman of All China Women’s Federation (November 1999), Li Peng, Chairman of the NPC (November, 1999), Dai Bingguo, Minister of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee (April 2000), Wang Zhongyu, Member and Secretary-general of the State Council (May 2000), Li Tieying, member of the political bureau of the CPC Central Committee (2001) and many others.

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, the projects of aid and assistance provided by China to Kenya mainly include: Moi International Sport Center, methane-generating pit and the expansion project of Eldoret hospital, Confucius Institute at Nairobi University, Teaching Chinese and Joint Research Work on Vegetables with Egerton University, Road Construction Projects etc.

China and Kenya signed an agreement for cultural cooperation in September 1980 and a new Cultural Cooperation agreement was recently (May 2009) signed between the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of State for Culture and National Heritage and Vice minister for Culture of China. The two countries signed the protocol for the cooperation in higher education, according to which China provides Egerton University with apparatuses for teaching and researches with 2 teachers sent over to work there. Starting from 1982, China would provide Kenya every year with at least 10 scholarships. And in 2002, the Kenyan students studying in China came to 58 in all. In 1985, China’s Xinhua News Agency set up a general branch office at Nairobi in Africa.