•The Kenyan case study is important because it underscores China’s sincerity in its relations with not just Kenya, but Africa as a whole.
•Unlike the Bretton Woods institutions led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who had actually tried to make a comeback in Kenya after decades of near irrelevance, China’s assistance has no strings attached.
Image: PCS
In the days leading up to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit currently going on in Beijing, media houses in Kenya splashed the news that the government had secured a USD 309 million (Sh40 billion) loan from China to complete 15 stalled road projects across more than ten counties. The loan will be used to complete unfinished infrastructure projects across the country.
The loan was the fruits of negotiations since October, 2023 when Kenya’s President Dr William Ruto made a state visit to China and held discussions with President Xi Jinping. The facility was purely based on Kenya’s request, which was positively received by its leading global development partner.
The renewed Chinese funding came as a pleasant surprise to many Kenyans since it negated a misleading narrative that the two close allies had been drifting apart in the last couple of years. The cynics, whose misinformation campaign seemed to be at the behest of the usual suspects in the West, strove to make Kenyans believe that the country’s two-year old government had taken a pro-Western stance, and the look East policy of the previous Kenyan governments was in jeopardy.
Now, to emphasize the fact that China-Kenya relations were as strong as ever, President Ruto is already in Beijing to attend the FOCAC summit taking place from September 4 to 6. He has already joined other heads of state and government of African nations for this premier diplomatic event being held under the theme, "Joining hands to promote modernization and build a high-level Chinese-African community of destiny".
The Kenyan case study is important because it underscores China’s sincerity in its relations with not just Kenya, but Africa as a whole. It debunks myths that the West has tried hard to sell about China’s alleged exploitative and predatory ways in the continent. In fact, it proved that China is Africa’s best bet when it comes to sustainable, wholesome and long term development assistance for the continent.
Unlike the Bretton Woods institutions led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who had actually tried to make a comeback in Kenya after decades of near irrelevance, China’s assistance has no strings attached. It is instructive that the recent youth protests in the country against punitive tax measures was as a result of a set of economic policies prescribed by the IMF. China has never been blamed for meddling in the country’s economy.
As a trading country, China obviously considers the return on investment in its partnerships. For instance, the infrastructural projects, especially under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have benefited China by the efficient and cost effective movement of Africa’s raw materials to far flung ports. Most importantly, the BRI projects have also opened up trade routes for African countries to access national, intra-Africa and international markets. These are real results whose benefits can be measured and quantified.
Such is the good faith and win-win outcomes that have sustained the strategic relations between the two partners. Unlike Western powers, China has avoided the tendency to be condescending and patronizing to countries that still have a long development curve. Instead, it has acted as a beacon of hope and helping them not to slide any further into poverty.
China has also avoided predatory practices in its lending to African countries. Indeed, the second largest economy has offered mainly concessional loans to these developing countries at below market rates, and with repayment periods of between 20 and 30 years. African countries have benefited from these monies to meet both their urgent infrastructural needs and wealth creation initiatives.
In respect of the sovereignty of African countries, China has let them grow organically in a manner that will eventually result in a socioeconomic and political model of governance best suited to their needs and conditions. This non-judgmentalism is based on the country’s principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The two partners share many historical similarities, which has created amity and empathy between them.
In helping to enhance human resources in the continent, China has offered scholarships and training programs to thousands of African students and professionals, enhancing human resource development on the continent. When they go back home, these students contribute significantly to their countries development by applying their new or advanced knowledge in critical sectors, particularly in industry, science and technology.
In order to improve mutual understanding between the partners, China has invested heavily in cultural diplomacy through Confucius Institutes, educational exchanges, and media partnerships. These initiatives aim to foster mutual understanding and strengthen people-to-people connections.
According to the just released findings of a survey conducted by CGTN and Renmin University of China through the New Era International Communication Research Institute, over 80 percent of the 10,000 respondents from 10 African countries praised China for its respect, appreciation and support for Africa. The respondents were also of the view that China treated its African friends with “sincerity”, and appreciated China's policy towards Africa based on “sincerity, real results, amity and good faith”.
The writer is the Executive Director of South-South Dialogues, a Nairobi-based communications development think tank, and a PhD student at the United States International University-Africa.