Assessment of the Effect of International Partnerships on Infrastructural Development a Case Study of Kenya/china Relations

Abstract

Development is inevitable in the world today, and countries are striving to achieve their various developmental goals in order to provide and ensure better livelihoods for their people. This study aims to explore the impact and how effective international partnerships have contributed to the growth of developing countries with much emphasis laid on Kenya, and how its international partnership with China has impacted Kenya as a country and its people. Since Kenya/China partnerships started being signed by the former late President MwaiKibaki between the two governments, Kenya has experienced notable developmental advancement especially on the infrastructural front. The Chinese have mainly carried out various infrastructural projects in different sectors that include energy, transport and real estate as relations between Kenya and China soar. Among the noticeable projects that have been so far developed by the Chinese include the Thika Superhighway that connects downtown Nairobi and Thika town in the city’s northeast, so far the most acclaimed project, the $26million University of Nairobi Towers which has transformed operations at Kenya’s biggest university and changed the city’s skyline and the $14.1-billion Standard Gauge Railway that runs from Mombasa, at the Kenyan coast, through Nairobi, and is expected to extend to Malaba on the Kenya-Uganda border, ultimately improving movement of goods and people across the East Africa region. This study is key to establish how effective this partnership between Kenya and China has benefited or affected the Kenyan people and their livelihood. The study will assess how effective Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) have been to Kenya and how they have helped in growing Kenya’s economy without leaving out the challenges that have been experienced out of the partnership. Various theories were referred to in this study and the scope targeted experts in international relations matters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, construction industry and the general public. The study used a descriptive research design and was based on primary data that was collected through interviews and questionnaires that were later analyzed. The data was presented also in frequency of tables. This study has been able to establish that a significant majority of the public possess awareness on the initiatives that the Kenyan government has undertaken and which have been executed through the funding of the Chinese government. A substantial number of the public agrees that the influence of China in Kenya has manifested positively on Kenya’s economic expansion more so through employment. In conclusion, the research findings offer valuable insights into the awareness, perceptions, and challenges surrounding various aspects of the Kenya- China relationship. These conclusions provide a foundation for informed policy decisions, strategic planning, and further research to address the identified gaps and opportunities.