-
Ruto is in the country for the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit which officially commences tomorrow.
-
The summit which happens every three years will take place from September 4-6, 2024 and focuses on improving the China-Africa partnership.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto who is currently on an official visit to China is accompanied by a section of his Cabinet members led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Treasury’s John Mbadi, Davis Chirchir (Roads), Julius Ogamba (Education) and Eric Muriithi (Water) are the other key figures in the delegation highlighting the crucial role in the trip.
Ruto is in the country for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit which officially commences tomorrow.
The summit which happens every three years will take place from September 4 to 6, 2024 and focuses on improving the China-Africa partnership.
The gathering brings together 53 African countries and China to discuss important topics in the Africa-China relationship, including trade, investment, and development.
President Xi Jinping is set to officially open the meeting on Thursday.
Apart from high-level engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with the Chinese government, Ruto is set to witness the inking of major infrastructure deals.
China and Kenya have previously undertaken a number of flagship connectivity projects which include the Standard Gauge Railway, Kipevu Terminal in Mombasa and the Nairobi Expressway among several others.
The presence of four CSs is particularly significant given the discussions surrounding critical development initiatives done in collaboration with Chinese firms.
Key projects on the agenda include the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba, the development of rural roads, and the implementation of the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System (NITS).
SGR was initially to run from Mombasa to Kisumu.
However, the project started by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta was halted in Nakuru due to inadequate funds.
Kenya has already signed an agreement that will see Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and DRC complete the remaining sections of the SGR line that will see it run from Mombasa through Kampala to Kigali, Rwanda.
Former Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had announced that the government would begin construction in December.
Kenya will also lobby for additional financial and technical support for key sectors.
On NITS, the Cabinet approved its use in February this year in a bid to tackle frequent traffic jams in the city.
The technology is expected to replace the reliance on traffic police at various junctions in the city as well as county traffic officers.
It is said that Nairobi loses approximately Sh120 billion per year due to traffic congestion.
The Bosto Dam water supply in Bomet which has been a pipe dream for over a decade since the government announced its plan to implement it has also been lined up.
The government has projected that the project will require up to Sh15 billion.
It is one of the major dams the Kenya Kwanza administration seeks to implement in a bid to address water problem in country.
“We have secured Sh15 billion from the Chinese government for the Bosto water project,” Ruto said during a recent event in Bomet as he assured residents of his return in December to launch it.
Once complete, it will serve Konoin, Bomet Central, Chepalungu, Sotik and parts of Buret in Kericho.
On Education, Kenya will be seeking partnership with China to upgrade equipment in technical and vocational training (TVET) workshops.
Ruto is also accompanied by first lady mama Rachel, opposition leader Raila Odinga, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo and Korir Singo'ei (Foreign Affairs).
Ruto met Monday his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
During the meeting, Ruto said President Xi agreed to give Kenya's agricultural produce access to the Chinese market.
"We also agreed to discuss regional infrastructure projects such as the expansion of SGR, and the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway," he said.
Kenya and China have excellent and cordial diplomatic relations, which have been mutually beneficial to the two countries.
Ruto is set to co-chair the Road and Belt Initiative session.
Ruto has also met Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.
FOCAC, Ruto stated, underpins Kenya-China strategic partnership that provides a platform to explore opportunities for a people-centred mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries.
China has built over 10,000km of railways in Africa, 100,000km of highways, 200, 000km of fibre optic, almost 100 ports, 50 stadiums, 130 hospitals and over 200 schools.