President William Ruto and former political rival Raila Odinga arrived in Beijing on Monday evening ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit.
The two leaders, whose relationship has seen a surprising thaw in recent months, are part of a high-profile delegation of African leaders attending the summit.
Their joint arrival in China drew significant attention, with President Ruto making a stylish yet casual entrance, donning a Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirt, jeans, and white sneakers.
Raila Odinga, following closely behind, maintained his classic look in a navy blue Kaunda suit and a cowboy hat.
“China-Africa Cooperation Summit. The meeting presents an opportunity for Africa to renew and strengthen its partnership with China,” Ruto tweeted upon their arrival.
“Over the years, China has proven to be a true development partner, significantly revamping our infrastructure. We look forward to leveraging these ties to accelerate our transformation.”
The presence of Ruto and Raila at such a high-profile event represents a significant shift in Kenyan politics.
For years, the two have been fierce opponents, with Raila challenging election results that favored Ruto in their last outing.
However, the anti-tax protests earlier this year sparked an unexpected reconciliation, leading to the formation of a broad-based government.
During the summit, President Ruto is expected to pursue multi-million-dollar agreements with China, focusing on infrastructure and trade.
Meanwhile, Raila is anticipated to meet with African leaders, likely to garner support for his bid to become the chairperson of the African Union Commission.
