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| China Communications Construction Company Chairman W. Tongzhou (r) and President William Ruto walk on the red carpet in Beijing |
President William Ruto is in China for a three-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, which kicks off today. . Ruto took advantage of the visit to unlock funding for major infrastructure projects in the country. According to the Chinese Loan to Africa (CLA) Database 2021 brief, Kenya last received funding from Beijing in 2019. However, on his first day on Tuesday, September 3, the head of state sealed multi-billion shilling project deals with the Chinese government.
These deals are KSh 34 billion, which will fund the construction of rural roads in Kenya, among others. List of project deals Ruto secured China funding
1. Extension of SGR In a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, Ruto discussed plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Uganda. The funding will also extend the SGR to Rwanda, DR Congo, and Congo Brazzaville to enhance regional connectivity.
2. Rironi-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba dual carriage The meeting also addressed the construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba dual carriageway. Once completed, the road will ease the movement of goods and passengers to western Kenya and the broader region. The project was first assigned to a French company, but the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) terminated the contract over the high rates.
3. Muthaiga-Kiambu road Ruto also featured the dualing of Muthaiga Kiambu road in the talks with China. The president reviewed an earlier plan for the project, which aims to alleviate traffic congestion to and from Nairobi. In 2023, Kenya and China agreed on a deal to expand Kiambu road from Muthaiga to Ndumberi into a dual carriageway. The KSh 38.3 billion deal will see the 25-kilometre road dealing implemented by M/s Sinohydro Corporation Limited of China.
4. Nairobi Northern Bypass The president also highlighted the dualling of the Nairobi Northern Bypass to ease traffic congestion in the city. The meeting also featured ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects, including the Integrated Transport System in Nairobi.
5. Rural road project Kenya and China also agreed to fund rural road construction in the country. President Ruto expressed gratitude to China for its KSh 34 billion support towards the project that will see the roads serve 70% of Kenya’s population. Other deals signed include: the equipping of technical, vocational education and training colleges (TVETs) the construction of the Bosto Dam in Bomet County the development of the LAPSSET corridor projects, particularly the Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo road.
by Wycliffe Musalia