Written by Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press-Kenya The President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta last week, defended Kenya and China’s economic ties by praising the relationship between the two countries saying it is a partnership of mutual benefit.
Mutually beneficial
President Uhuru was telling off critics who have faulted Kenya for often engaging with the Chinese government for projects. According to him, many people believe that the relationship between the two nations is not beneficial. But he assured that Kenya’s partnership with China is one that is mutually beneficial, and it is based on a win-win. Uhuru challenged those criticizing Kenya-China ties to visit the projects done by the two nations in Nairobi, Lamu, Kilindini.
Projects
The new project China is working on is on the constriction of the Nairobi Expressway, which is expected to be completed in March next year. The 27.1km road project from Mlolongo through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Nairobi’s CBD to Westland’s area along Waiyaki Way is constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation and being financed under a public-private partnership model.
Costs
The Sh65 billion Nairobi Expressway will have a four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway within the existing Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, and Waiyaki Way as well as 10 interchanges. The private company funding the construction will operate the road for 27 years to recoup funds spent on the project before ceding it to the state.
The second largest road toll in Africa
The Nairobi Expressway is the first in East and Central Africa and the second largest toll road in Africa after the Dakar Toll Highway. The double-decker road is the equivalent of having half of the Thika Superhighway suspended above Uhuru highway, the city’s main traffic artery.
projects completed
Kenya led the world in completing China-funded mega projects ahead of schedule under Beijing’s global infrastructure development strategy, findings of a new study by a top United States research University suggest. The report established five projects in Kenya that were done ahead of the deadline between 2013 and 2017, putting Kenya amongst the top countries which have benefited from china’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
China-Kenya relations
The two countries’ bilateral relations date back to 14 December 1963, two days after the formal establishment of Kenyan independence, when China became the fourth country to open an embassy in Nairobi. In 2002 both countries signed cooperation documents related to the Belt and Roads Initiative Bilateral trade amounted to US$186.37 million.
From 2000 to 2011, there were approximately 65 Chinese official development finance projects identified in Kenya through various media reports.
In May this year, the Government of China promised to build Kenya’s new headquarters for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a move to strengthen the two nation’s relations.
