Attendees were treated to Chinese music, dragon dance and kung fu performances, as well as plays and cultural exhibitions, including a fashion show featuring the traditional qipao.

The hundreds of visitors also had the chance to try a range of traditional Chinese food.

Zhang came to Nairobi two years ago to work at the Two Rivers Mall, a shopping complex in the city’s diplomatic blue circle built as a joint venture between Kenya’s Centum Investment Co and Chinese firm Avic.

He said sampling food from different provinces helped him to reconnect with his home country. “Beijing is known for its Peking duck. Food from Sichuan and Hunan [provinces] is more hot and spicy,” he said. The cuisines of Guangdong and Hainan had lighter flavours, Zhang added, as “they don’t like the original flavours to be overwhelmed with lots of ingredients”.

Zhou Pingjian, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, and Zainab Hawa Bangura, director general of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, were among the high-profile guests.

Kenya is also a key destination for Chinese tourists looking to sample its safari circuit, especially at the Masai Mara national reserve, home to the “Big Five” – African elephant, lion, leopard, Cape buffalo and rhinoceros.

Last week, Kenya welcomed some 200 Chinese tourists aboard the luxury cruise ship MSC Poesia. The passengers visited Kenya’s sandy beaches and wildlife sanctuaries as part of the Lunar New Year festivities, including Wasini Island and the coastal Tsavo East National Park.

“We have thousands of Chinese people here. We work far away from home and during the Chinese traditional holidays, we feel homesick,” Zhang said.

“This event makes us happy and feel at home … It is a good way to tell the Chinese story to the rest of the world.”

Dr Henry Rotich, chairman of the Kenya China Alumni Association, underscored the importance of the Lunar New Year in strengthening the bond of friendship between the two countries.

“Chinese are very strong in preserving their culture,” he said. “Kenyans can learn from them on how to preserve our culture and celebrate it whenever we are, in and out of the country.”

Student scholarships had also enriched the bilateral bond, according to Rotich, whose organisation represents Kenyans who studied in China. Many students had “come back with ideas and business opportunities to implement in Kenya, contributing to nation building”, he said.

Gao Wei, the chairman of the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association, said “very good” bilateral ties had drawn Chinese into the Kenyan construction and service industries. The Year of the Dragon is a lucky year that “will bring our people together and strengthen cooperation”, he said.

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, is a cherished tradition celebrated by 20 countries involving one-fifth of the world’s population, Gao added.

Kenyan President William Ruto extended a message of goodwill to the Chinese people to mark the occasion, saying his administration would continue to support the Chinese business community to run their operations smoothly for the benefit of all.

“I also confirm to you that members of the Chinese community in Kenya receive the support they need to feel at home away from home, as they make their contribution to the transformative partnership between Kenya and China,” he said in a statement on Saturday.