Kenya will take deliberate steps to facilitate Chinese private sector investment in major areas of the economy, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said.
Mudavadi said that China is Kenya’s leading bilateral development partner and seeks to invest in other sectors of the economy beyond the Belt and Road Initiative projects (BRI).
He said China has contributed to Kenya’s long-term socio-economic transformation in a visible, tangible, and significant manner, especially in the last two decades under BRI.
“This is a deliberate move aimed at enhancing Kenya-China strategic partnership and, most crucially, ensures that every aspect of bilateral cooperation will bring our peoples together through people-to-people contact and collaboration.” Mudavadi said.
Other key sectors of the economy like ICT, Renewable Energy, Education and joint research, Retail, Hotel and Housing, have also benefited from the support of the Government of China as well the participation of the Chinese private sector.
He made the remarks during the commemoration of 75th anniversary of National Foundation celebrations day for China at the Chinese embassy in Nairobi.
Mudavadi, also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS, said that currently, Kenya is investing significant resources in infrastructure development to unlock existing but unexploited opportunities to create jobs and alleviate poverty especially in rural areas.
“Kenya acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Government of China, without which Kenya would not be one of the key Belt and Road Initiative partners. Further, Kenya appreciates the Government of China for encouraging the Chinese private sector to invest in Kenya in Belt and Road Initiative projects as well as other sectors.” He added.
He assured that the government is committed to the Kenya-China Joint Vision and advancing modernisation, taking into account the 2024 FOCAC Summit outcomes while promoting the four Initiatives at national, regional, continental and global levels.
At the multilateral level, he said Kenya enjoys historical collaboration with China on matters South-South cooperation.
Similarly, he described it is a strong voice for Kenya and other developing countries and a partnership focused on championing reform of international financial architecture to be a fair, just and rule-based system.
This, he said, will facilitate access to affordable financing for sustainable socio-economic development in the long term.
Another key area of the Kenya-China multilateral cooperation is the reform of the UN Security Council to ultimately ensure that it is inclusive and reflects the current realities of the global political and security affairs.
“China leads by example on climate change mitigation and sustainable economic development support.” He added.
At the same time, the CS said China is the world’s second largest economy, largest manufacturer, trader in goods, consumer of commodities, and the largest holder of foreign exchange reserves.
To this end, he stated that China stands tall in global political and economic affairs and is a key stabilizer in an unstable global economy.
Mudavadi noted that China also demonstrated sustained good governance, discipline, and commitment to implement national development priorities, which is people-centred, long-term, and inclusive sustainable modernization.
At global level, he acknowledged China’s best practices which contribute towards peace and stability and enhanced South-South cooperation, including the five principles: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
“China continues to be the “north star” and a firm voice for many developing countries in an international system that is unfair, unjust and insensitive to the peculiar needs of developing countries.” The Prime CS added.
