How China has Elaborated FOCAC Resolutions in Kenya

 

The commitment China has made towards Africa, especially through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, has continued to cement the relationship and spur development in various sectors in Kenya. The awarding of scholarships by the Chinese ambassador to students from Kenya is a pointer of Beijing's commitment to the principles laid out at FOCAC, which has been a cornerstone of Sino-African relations since its inception in 2000.

Sustaining and Helping in Promising Sectors

Health is one of the major areas in which China has shown full commitment. China provided funds for the construction of the Malaria Prevention and Treatment Centre and the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi. Basically, these projects were not purely infrastructural; they represented an injection into the livelihood of Kenyans. Upon completion, China made a donation of medical supplies and equipment to the value of Sh180m to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital to ensure that it is fully supplied and equipped for effective service delivery to the community.

Expanding Human Resource Development and Education

"The investment by China in Kenya is way beyond infrastructure. The various types of country training programs for Kenyan officials and technicians by China reportedly increased over the years and include but are not restricted to such sectors as economy and trade, agriculture, medical services, communication, and education. Both multilateral and bilateral training courses have been organized in satisfying large hunger in skill and knowledge among the Kenyan professional classes in China, contributing significantly to the rise in capability and development of Kenya.".

The Chinese government has also been consistent in awarding scholarships to Kenyan students. Just in the past four decades, over 2,000 scholarships have been awarded to Kenyan students undertaking undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the Land of the Dragon. Already in the current financial year, 19 scholarships have been awarded to Kenyans, indicating China's sustained support to education in Kenya.

Fostering Cooperation in Talent Development

During the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in Johannesburg in August 2023, President Xi Jinping announced an ambitious program of China-Africa cooperation in talent development with the intention to train 500 principals and high-quality teachers of vocational colleges annually. Other aspects include grooming 10,000 technically qualified persons, both in industrial terms and with sound knowledge of the Chinese language, and conducting workshops and seminars for 20,000 African governmental officials and technicians.

It is estimated that this will not only help Kenyan students but also professionals, such as police who were trained in China in combating complex crimes. In 2021 alone, over 400 police officers from Kenya have been equipped, after attending refresher courses in China, with knowledge on how to tackle challenges of the technological age. This is just a fruit of highly preparatory human resource development facilitated by the close cooperation Kenya and China enjoy through FOCAC.

Improved Cultural and Linguistic Interaction

Inclusion of Mandarin in KEI's Competency-Based Curriculum has made the language an optional subject, thereby increasing demand for more teachers. Going forward, since scholarship would be aligned with the demand for the language, its subsequent effect means that more Kenyan people will, as a result, take up Mandarin, eventually producing enough teachers. This language exchange will facilitate not only language strengths but also connections of culture and economies between Kenya and China, fostering mutual appreciation and cooperation.

Infrastructure Development Financing

Infrastructural support like concessional loans and preferential export buyer's credit for various projects not only show China's support for Kenya but also run into Kenya. Notable amongst the same are the likes of the Nairobi Eastern and Northern Bypass, Nairobi Southern Bypass, and the Nairobi-Thika Highway, among many others. Running into billions of shillings, these projects would really boost the state of infrastructure in Kenya, leading to economic growth and increased self-development capacity.

Infrastructure development is not the only area through which the development of Kenya has been realized with assistance from China. It has additionally offered a Special Loan for the Development of African SMEs, where projects carried out have helped propel small and medium-sized enterprises in the country, for example, in tea production, power generation, and regional aviation. This form of financial support has been used to boost entrepreneurship and economic development in Kenya.

China was evidenced to make contributions in the development of Kenya over time, following the completion of some projects. These included the Moi International Sports Centre, JKIA-Uhuru Highway-Gigiri (UNEP) Roads, and several rural primary schools in Kenya. These projects have totally uplifted the economy of Kenya in terms of transportation, education, and improved general life quality.

It has also stood with Kenya in its trying times. Kenya had to grapple with the worst drought and famine in 60 years, but China was there to donate the main food items worth Sh1.8 billion. This spiraled into an act of magnanimity showing the deep friendship relations between both nations and China's determination to be with Kenya at its times of need.

Conclusion

This is evidenced in the instance of the practical provision of the resolutions under FOCAC, especially in Kenya. The undertakings have touched on health and education, infrastructure, and economic support for the growth and development of Kenya. With the ninth FOCAC summit days away, the great foundation on which these initiatives have been laid promises to further the improvement of the Sino-African relationship for even more collaboration in the years ahead.