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\begin{document}

\title{Sino-Kenya tales: A decade of Belt and Road Initiative partnership}



\author[1]{Jacob Muinde}%
\affil[1]{Affiliation not available}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{May 21, 2024}


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\textbf{Jacob M Muinde}

\textsuperscript{\textbf{1}}\textbf{Chinese Academy of Sciences}

\textbf{\textsuperscript{2}National Museums of Kenya}

\section*{Introduction}

{\label{introduction}}

While diplomatic ties between Kenya and China have existed for over 60
years, their friendly relationship dates back even further, to the Ming
dynasty era (1368-1644), when the Chinese explorer Zheng He made
multiple visits to Kenya. Formal diplomatic relations between China and
Kenya were established just two days after Kenya gained independence on
December 14, 1963. Since then, diplomatic ties flourished and on August
20, 1964, a Kenyan delegation visited Mao Zedong, the then Chairman of
the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in
Beijing.

Despite a temporary suspension of diplomatic ties in 1967, which were
later re-established in 1978, the relationship between the two countries
has grown significantly, especially in terms of economic and investment
partnerships, making China Kenya's largest trading partner. Notable
events include high-profile meetings during President Daniel Moi's
tenure in May 1994, followed by visits from subsequent Kenyan presidents
like Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and the current President William
Ruto, who have all pursued a ''Look East Policy'' towards China.

Over the past decade, Kenya has received substantial foreign aid from
China, aimed at developing infrastructure and boosting trade. Kenya has
also been a key entry point for China's Belt and Road Initiative into
Africa. Through its ''China Approach'' development assistance, China has
made significant contributions to Kenya's infrastructural development,
including railways, roads, water sources, renewable energy projects,
ports, education, and capacity building, all geared towards enhancing
the country's economic and social development.

This analysis is based on policy documents and project reports from both
the Kenyan and Chinese governments, aiming to evaluate the progress and
current status of Sino-Kenya relations across various sectors, including
economic partnership, academic mobility, capacity building, and
sustainable development cooperation.

\section*{A win-win economic
partnership}

{\label{a-win-win-economic-partnership}}

Sino-Kenyan relations were established in 1978, and the first investment
protection agreement was signed in 2001, followed by the establishment
of a joint bilateral trade, investment, and economic and technological
cooperation in 2011. By 2003, the interaction between China and Kenya
had generated trade volumes exceeding US\$186 million, with China
establishing 96 investment projects worth over 4 billion Kenyan
shillings. With the introduction of China's Belt and Road initiative
(BRI) in 2013, Chinese investments in Kenya have surged to over US\$2.26
billion as of 2021. In 2018, bilateral trade volume reached US\$5.4
billion, marking a 3.3\% year-on-year increase. China's exports to Kenya
averaged US\$5.4 billion annually from 2015 to 2018, peaking at US\$5.9
billion in 2015. Kenya has also found a new market for its agricultural
produce, including tea, coffee, and fresh avocados, with 30\% of fresh
avocado produce exported to the Chinese market as of January 2022.

China has significantly invested in Kenya's infrastructure, with at
least US\$9.8 billion allocated between 2006 and 2007 for projects such
as the Nairobi-Thika Highway and the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge
Railway (SGR). These projects have enhanced mobility for Kenyan citizens
and goods. By 2023, the Standard Gauge Railway had transported over
11.16 million passengers and 28.6 million tons of cargo, providing
employment for over 2000 Kenyans. Notably, railway cars were
manufactured locally, leading to the training and employment of over
250,000 Kenyans, along with contracts awarded to 300 local companies,
contributing to a 1.5\% boost in the country's GDP. Other major projects
under the Belt and Road Initiative include a 50-megawatt solar power
farm in Garissa (US\$13.6 billion), the Nairobi Expressway (US\$688
million), the Nairobi Southern bypass (US\$183.6 million), the Nairobi
Western bypass (US\$173 million), the Nairobi Inland Container Depot
(US\$212.3 million), and the Kenyatta University Teaching, Research, and
Referral Hospital (US\$99 million).

\section*{Academic Mobility: Higher education scholarship
program}

{\label{academic-mobility-higher-education-scholarship-program}}

China has also prioritized the development of human capital in Kenya,
beginning as early as 2000 with the establishment of the Forum on
China-African Cooperation. In the early 1980s, China initiated the
Chinese government scholarships for Kenyan students to pursue studies in
various fields such as technology, business, engineering, and scientific
research. According to the China Scholarship Council database, this
program has benefitted 1985 Kenyan students. Over the past decades, the
Chinese government has introduced additional scholarship programs
including the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship program, Belt and Road
Scholarship, Alliance International Science Organization, Chinese
Scholarship Council, and Ministry of Commerce, People's Republic of
China Scholarship, all of which have provided Kenyan citizens with
opportunities for higher education.

Furthermore, educational institutions between the two countries have
collaborated, with the Chinese government establishing the first
Confucius Institute in partnership with the University of Nairobi and
Tianjin Normal University in 2005. This collaboration aimed to provide
Kenyans with the opportunity to learn the Chinese language and culture.
In September 2011, the Sino-Africa Biodiversity Research Conservation
directorate was established to facilitate collaborative research and
promote biodiversity conservation through training and research. This
initiative led to the establishment of the Sino-African Joint Research
Center (SAJOREC) at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and
Technology, Juja campus. Through this project, the Chinese government
invested over Ksh. 3 billion for the construction of the JKUAT botanical
garden and offered fully-funded scholarships for Kenyan students to
pursue Master's and Doctoral programs at various research institutes
under the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In 2017, the Chinese government, through the China Road and Bridge
Corporation and the contractor of the Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya,
provided at least 100 scholarships to Kenyan high school graduates to
pursue bachelor's degree courses in railway engineering at Beijing
Jiatong University. With the recent increase in Chinese initiatives in
Kenya, we anticipate significant progress in both Chinese language
proficiency and vocational skills through academic cooperation.

\section*{Capacity Building}

{\label{capacity-building}}

Over time, the development of human capabilities has reached
unprecedented levels under the influence of China-Kenya relations. The
Chinese government has prioritized human resource training as a
fundamental aspect of bilateral cooperation. Since the initiation of the
China-sponsored human resources training program in 2001, more than
10,000 Kenyan government officials have traveled to China to participate
in vocational training and seminars. As of March 2024, China had
provided training opportunities to at least 60,000 Kenyans in various
fields such as skilled technical workers, managers, doctors, teachers,
and industry personnel. Through collaborative initiatives, China has
also established technical and vocational education and training
institutions, such as Tianjin City Vocational College and Huawei,
located in Machakos University, offering ICT talents and cloud computing
skills to students and the community. Additionally, China has
contributed to the upgrading and transformation of 144 universities and
colleges in Kenya.

The Sino-Africa Joint Research Center has conducted workshops, seminars,
and training sessions for Kenyan citizens, held both in China and Kenya.
In partnership with government research organizations such as the
National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the Chinese government has organized
training programs for university lecturers and laboratory technicians,
focusing on molecular laboratory techniques at Wuhan Botanical Garden
and Wuhan University of Virology. Through mutual partnerships between
China and Kenya, there are plans to modernize the Kenya Railway Training
Institute and establish the China-Africa Teachers College of Vocational
Education. The skills and training programs facilitated by Sino-Kenya
cooperation are expected to have a significant impact on the economic
and social development of both countries.

\section*{Sustainable development
cooperation}

{\label{sustainable-development-cooperation}}

Significant efforts have been made under the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC), where China has launched global development
initiatives aimed at realizing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Kenya, serving as the entry point for the Belt and Road Initiative in
Africa, occupies a strategic position to benefit from numerous
partnerships and projects under the Initiative. For instance, Nairobi
presents direct investment opportunities for Chinese firms and serves as
a gateway to the rest of Africa, while also facilitating the export of
its resources.

China's poverty alleviation efforts have led to the upliftment of over
800 million people worldwide in the past three decades. Since the
establishment of Sino-Kenya ties through the Belt and Road initiative a
decade ago, Kenya has witnessed remarkable socio-economic development
across various sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare,
housing, transportation, and industrialization. Numerous development
projects are underway to ensure a stable economy in Kenya, with the
current President, like his predecessors, advocating for increased
collaboration with China to further enhance infrastructural development
such as the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Suswa to
Malaba, highways, aviation, renewable energy, and water resources,
aligning with the vision outlined in Mwai Kibaki's Vision 2030.

Therefore, for the Sino-Kenyan relations to reach its full potential, it
is important to recognize that positive outcomes can be achieved when
the leadership and populations of both nations appreciate and
effectively utilize cooperation through constructive dialogue, trust,
and enduring friendship.

\section*{Conclusion}

{\label{conclusion}}

The interactions between China and Kenya have resulted in consistent
economic and social development within Kenya. In the past decade,
China's approach to aiding development through initiatives such as the
Belt and Road Initiative has led to a substantial increase in bilateral
trade volume between the two countries. China has become Kenya's primary
trading partner, with significant foreign direct investment and over 400
Chinese companies actively involved in infrastructure development in
Kenya. Furthermore, China has enhanced science and technology and
improved the livelihoods of Kenyan citizens through vocational training,
educational exchange programs, and scholarships. These efforts
demonstrate China's commitment to fostering mutually beneficial
partnerships, not only with Kenya but also with other developing
countries worldwide.

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