High-ranking officials from the Kenyan government have praised the positive impact of infrastructure projects implemented in the country with support from the People’s Republic of China.
The Principal Secretaries from the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs acknowledged that the projects, financed and constructed through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), have had a favorable effect on the local economy.
“We are convinced that these projects, implemented under the Belt and Road Initiative, have had far-reaching impacts on the socio-economic transformation of Kenya and the region. They have accelerated connectivity, attracted investment and entrepreneurship along the corridor, and created jobs,” said PS Korir Sing’Oei of Foreign Affairs.
He made the remarks after a two-day tour of several FOCAC-BRI-sponsored infrastructure projects in various parts of Kenya. Ambassadors from over 15 African countries and the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Zhou Pinjian, participated in the tour. Some of the projects visited included the Nairobi Expressway, Standard Gauge Railway, and Kipevu Oil Terminal.
Sing’Oei praised China’s role in Africa’s infrastructural development, stating that high-quality connectivity serves as a catalyst for economic growth and sustainable development. He believes this will ultimately enhance the well-being of the people.
“Connectivity is crucial for development, progress, and transformation, unlocking the continent’s agricultural, industrial, and mineral potential to attract investment and activate enterprise,” added the Foreign Affairs PS
The PS emphasized that Kenya is a key member and participant within the Belt and Road Initiative and FOCAC. The ninth FOCAC summit, scheduled to be held next month in Beijing, will showcase the tangible and practical achievements of the Sino-Africa partnership, according to Sing’Oei.
His counterpart from the State Department for Transport, Mohamed Daghar, noted that projects such as the 27-kilometer-long Nairobi Expressway, built under a PPP model by a Chinese company and currently witnessing remarkable traffic flow of over 69,000 vehicles daily, have changed Kenya’s landscape.
Daghar also highlighted the Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway as a game-changer for Kenya, pointing to the volume of goods and passengers transported via the network and the reduced travel time.
The PS reiterated that the government is determined to ensure that the Chinese-built railway line is extended all the way to the Kenya-Uganda border.
“We are working tirelessly with the National Treasury and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this extension,” he said, noting that Kenya has greatly benefited from its friendly relations with China.
The Chinese Ambassador noted that FOCAC promotes consultation, mutual respect, and equal treatment between China and Africa, even as he expressed confidence that the upcoming summit will open up new prospects for China-Africa relations.
“China strongly supports Africa’s development at the bilateral and multilateral levels, and China-Africa cooperation is a success story of South-South cooperation. China and African countries are committed to strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership and building a community with a shared future,” said the top envoy
