Mburu Col Victor N2025-09-152025-09-152023https://repository.ndu.ac.ke/handle/123456789/166China is lauded for the exponential growth it has achieved over the last four decades. For this reason, it gained the status of a global superpower and gradually it is emerging as a global security actor, a position long-held by the USA. For many years, it has been a bilateral partner to many African nations, particularly in trade and investment. China has an influence on the security landscape of the Greater Horn of Africa. This is a region of geostrategic importance, but it faces multiple security challenges that threaten its stability and that of the wider African continent. To determine whether China should take up greater security role of this region, this study undertook to establish the influence China has on the security landscape of this region. Generally, this research investigated China’s influence on the Greater Horn of Africa security landscape using the case study of Kenya from 2002 and 2022. Specifically, the study assessed: reasons for China’s interests in the Greater Horn of Africa security; China’s interests and their influence on the Kenya-China security relations from 2002-2022; and challenges and opportunities that exist for greater Kenya-China cooperation on security. The study was guided by Realism and Constructivism theories. A case study design was utilized and relevant data collected. Analysis was conducted on both the secondary and primary date from questionnaires and interview guide. It was established that China wants to play a bigger role in the security of the Greater Horn of Africa because of its interest in the region’s natural resources. These include the oil and gas resources. It was also determined that China wants to safeguard its present and prospective investments and trading engagements in the Greater Horn of Africa. China however is not seeking to exert dominance in the region but to establish a win-win situation with its partners in the region. The study also found out that China’s impact in the military and economic security of Kenya between 2000 and 2022 was significant. Several challenges were also identified from this relationship including persistent balance of trade deficit, adverse impact of Chinese goods on Kenya’s manufacturing sector, and the competition posed by Chinese SMEs against the Kenyan-owned SMEs. These can be overcome using systemic solutions. The study also established that China offers diverse opportunities that Kenya could exploit to enhance its military and economic security. These included opportunities for increased trade, technology transfer, greater security cooperation, and tourism. Overall, China’s influence on Kenya’s security landscape is vividly clear through the trading relations between the two nations, China FDI inflows in Kenya, supplies of Chinese military hardware, provision of training opportunities to Kenya’s military, and military exchanges between the two states.enThesis