Exploring Deep Chinese Roots in Kenya Centuries Before British Colonisation

Kenya and China have always shared a friendly relationship built on culture, language, and trade over the years. But now, new information suggests that this connection may have started much earlier—possibly even before the British ever set foot in the country.

The British officially took control of Kenya in 1895 when they declared it the East Africa Protectorate, marking the beginning of formal colonial rule. This later evolved into the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya in 1920 and lasted until Kenya gained independence in 1963.

However, a fascinating video shared by Hola Fujian tells a different story—one that reveals a much older connection between China and Kenya, long before the British arrived.

The video follows the journey of Dr. Mwamaka Sharifu, a Kenyan woman whose heritage links back to ancient Chinese sailors who came to the Kenyan coast hundreds of years ago.

Dr. Sharifu, who was born in Lamu, grew up hearing oral stories from her grandmother. These stories spoke of shipwrecked Chinese sailors from the fleet of Admiral Zheng He during the Ming Dynasty, around 600 years ago.

The sailors are believed to have been part of Zheng He’s famous voyages across the Indian Ocean between 1405 and 1433.

According to the stories, these sailors ended up near Pate Island in the Lamu Archipelago after one of their ships was wrecked around 1415–1418.

They swam to shore and were warmly received by the local communities. Instead of leaving, they settled down, married into the local families, worked, and blended into the coastal culture. Some of their descendants are believed to still live in the region today—Dr. Sharifu among them.

Their presence was not just felt through family lines—they also left behind physical evidence such as blue-and-white porcelain bowls from the Ming Dynasty, which further prove their existence in the area.

Admiral Zheng He was one of China’s most famous explorers. He led seven massive sea expeditions from China to various parts of the world, including the East African coast—reaching places like Mombasa, Malindi, and Mogadishu.

These missions were mainly diplomatic, aiming to show China’s power, build relationships, and grow trade networks.

Over the years, several attempts have been made to recover ship remains as physical proof of this early interaction. In July 2010, Chinese archaeologists launched a search for these ancient shipwrecks near the Kenyan coast, hoping to uncover the true extent of China’s historic contact with East Africa.

On July 15, 2025, Dr. Sharifu paid a visit to China to reconnect with her ancestral roots. She visited the Zheng He Historical Relics Exhibition Hall, where she got to experience the preserved legacy of the admiral who unknowingly changed her family’s destiny centuries ago.

Her trip also included stops at Zhenghe Square, Xianying Palace, and other heritage sites dedicated to preserving Zheng He’s remarkable voyages.

This extraordinary story not only challenges the commonly known history of Kenya’s foreign relations but also shows that long before colonisation, Kenya was already part of a much bigger global story—one that includes centuries-old ties with China.

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