Nairobi, Jan. 8 -- Kenya's trade deficit with China widened to Sh475.6 billion in the first nine months of last year, highlighting a deepening imbalance in bilateral trade even as Nairobi pursues policy shifts to boost exports.

New data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows the deficit expanded 16.7 percent from Sh407.7 billion recorded over a comparable period in 2024, driven by rising imports and shrinking exports.

According to the data, Kenya's imports from China grew 14.5 percent to Sh489 billion between January and September 2025, up from Sh427.04 billion in the same period a year earlier, underscoring Nairobi's sustained appetite for Chinese products.

Exports, on the other hand, declined 30.8 percent to Sh13.4...