Brief: How China deals could hand Ruto lifeline
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2d agoTabnacha OdenyRealtime
A section of Kenya Kwanza leaders has defended President William Ruto’s visit to China.
The leaders refuted claims that the President went to borrow, saying that instead, the visit will help with development.
Speaking on Sunday, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah said the visit will help attract investors for many projects in the country.
“The President did not go to China to borrow, he went to look for investors. Even the Rironi-Mau Summit road you hear about will not just end there. It will be an investment from the Rironi-Mau Summit to Malaba border, to broaden the country," he said.
The majority leader said that the road situation in the country is in dire need of development to help avoid accidents and traffic.
South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, on his part, said that the President was in China to look for investors.
He refuted claims that international investors are abandoning the country, saying the President has signed multi-million-dollar deals.
“Some of you are saying that the President has visited China to look for investors from China instead of looking for Kenyan investors. What do you want? On one end you are saying investors are abandoning Kenya, when they come, you question which country they are from. What do you want?” He said.
The President concluded his 5-day state visit to China, which saw him sign major development deals.
The extension of the stalled Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is among the key highlights of agreements entered into by Kenya and China during Ruto's state visit to China.
The agreement signed will see various road projects, including the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway, dualled under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
BRI, also known as the One Belt and One Road Initiative (OBOR), is a development strategy proposed by the Chinese government focused on connectivity and cooperation between countries.
Kenya serves as a key hub for China's One Belt and One Road Initiative in Africa and is the largest recipient of Chinese financial aid in the construction of the new Silk Road.
The SGR project will involve phase 2B stretching from
Naivasha to Kisumu and phase 2C from Kisumu to Malaba.
Phase 1
started from Mombasa to Nairobi, and 480 kilometres, while 2A is Nairobi to
Naivasha.
Also
included is the financing for the dualing of the Northern Bypass, the dualing
of Kiambu Road to the Northern Bypass, and the construction of Nithi Bridge.
The two countries also signed a Framework Agreement for
the implementation of Phase III of Nairobi’s Intelligent Transport Management
System (ITMS).
ITMS uses intelligent cameras, variable timing traffic lights, and a control centre to observe and control traffic, easing traffic officers' work.
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