Impact Of Chinese Economic Foreign Policy On Development In Africa: A Case Study Of The Republic Of Kenya

Abstract

Majority of African countries are increasingly compelled to make a tradeoff between pursuing policies geared towards sustainable development of their economies and accommodating economic interest of multinational organizations. This has led to realignments in the international foreign policies and hence emergence of nontraditional partners such as China. This study sought to examine the current Chinese economic policy on Africa with a view of accessing effects of increased activities by Beijing in Kenya. Descriptive research design was used to investigate the effects of Chinese economic foreign policy on the development of Africa. The findings of the study revealed the existence of robust economic ties between China and Kenya and that foreign policy of the former seemed to be beneficial to the latter. The policy and economic cooperation between the two countries is working for Kenya economically in various ways which include: investment, foreign aid, economic cooperation and FDI, health and education sectors. Development funding from the Chinese government is directed towards infrastructure projects, hydropower stations, stadia, hospitals and schools. This study recommends that Kenya must continue to attract economic ties from multiple sources but ensure the resources are spent prudently and in a manner that prioritizes high impact areas. Kenya needs to strengthen its manufacturing sector with a view of not only supplying the country’s needs but also competing with China’s low cost goods at regional level. This is through a skills upgrade and specialization of the growing workforce. Similarly, Kenya must negotiate with traditional export markets to be granted preferential terms to access these market. The developer of trade policies need to focus on expanding the export market and also improving industries contribute immensely in creating employment opportunities.