By Eddah Waithaka
The first-ever China-Kenya Friendship Games energized Nyayo National Stadium this weekend, bringing together more than 700 Kenyan and Chinese employees from 19 corporate teams for a day of athletic competition and cultural exchange.
The Kenya–China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) hosted the event with support from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kenya, creating a vibrant platform to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Guo Haiyan opened the Games, emphasizing the role of sport as a bridge between cultures.
“The China-Kenya Friendship Games are not only an important event of the 2025 China-Kenya Culture and Tourism Season but also a vivid example of active cultural exchange between our two countries,” she stated.
She added that bilateral relations are currently at their strongest since the establishment of diplomatic ties and expressed hope that Chinese enterprises would continue contributing to this growing friendship.
On the track, 371 athletes competed side-by-side in eight events including sprints, middle-distance races, relays, and the long jump.
The games highlighted both speed and teamwork, with mixed relays seeing Kenyan and Chinese colleagues passing batons in unison.
Beyond the athletics, 340 participants joined light-hearted team-building activities such as the three-legged race, tug-of-war, and sack race, filling the stadium with cheers and laughter.
Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi of the State Department for Sports commended the initiative, noting, “Sports remind us that the strength of any bilateral relationship lies in everyday interactions between colleagues, friends, and communities.”
He highlighted the human connections that underpin broader cooperation in trade, technology, and development.
KCETA Chairman Yu Xiaodong affirmed the association’s commitment to growing the Friendship Games into an annual flagship event. “Sport builds a bridge between our peoples,” he said. The Games also sparked discussions on deeper sports collaboration.
PS Mwangi pointed to potential exchanges where Kenya could benefit from China’s sports science and technology, while China could leverage Kenya’s world-renowned high-altitude training ecosystems in regions like Iten and Eldoret.
“We warmly welcome Chinese athletes and teams to experience these environments through joint training camps and coaching exchanges,” Mwangi added.
As of December 2025, KCETA represents 103 Chinese enterprises in Kenya, which employed over 60,000 local staff between 2022 and 2023—accounting for 90% of their workforce in the country.
The event concluded with participants celebrating new friendships and shared experiences, setting a foundation for future editions aimed at further unifying Kenyan and Chinese communities through the universal language of sport.
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