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For a country that, for years, was badociated with island communist orthodoxy, dislike for private enterprise and self-imposed isolationism, it may seem strange that China is becoming an emerging superpower. one who trumpets his loyalty to free trade and globalization; while accusing the United States, bastion of capitalism, of betraying the principles that underlie international trade treaties.
This became clear when Chinese Ambbadador Sun Baohong organized a press conference on Friday to respond to the growing number of controversies over Chinese activities. Kenya, as well as global issues related to trade wars and tariffs caused by the protectionist regime of US President Donald Trump.
Although she disembarked in Nairobi just in May, Ms. Sun showed a keen sense of problems when she asked questions, and she practiced diplomacy in avoiding clear answers to some of the most sensitive and controversial questions. She was accompanied by the Commercial and Economic Counselor of the Embbady, Dr. Guo Ce, who delivered a speech largely focused on escalating the trade war with the United States while the Trump administration imposes barriers to the entry of Chinese goods. Like Canada and Western Europe
Ms. Sun chose to address media in the middle of a maelstrom about Chinese activities in Kenya, including media outlets. discrimination and mistreatment of local workers and racial segregation. .
There were also persistent questions about the cost and financial viability of the project as well as questions about potential corruption around contracting.
Problems regarding the huge trade imbalance in favor of China and its nascent foreign debt contribution, and the recent dominance of major infrastructure projects, the key being the RMS, as well as the roads and the telecommunications.
Another burning issue is the growing concern over the noticeable influx of Chinese citizens who settle to live and work in Nairobi and other urban areas, beyond those employed on the railway and other large projects.
Many are traders and businessmen who harbor resentment because of the perception that they are competing with small local traders.
After Ms. Sun and Dr. Guo finished their statements and opened their questions, the Sunday Nation Ambbadador, an exclusive interview on the request for clarification on certain issues
The most disturbing was the alleged racism and mistreatment of Kenyan workers at the RGS by their Chinese counterparts. Ms. Sun recognizes that there have been problems, but explains them to language barriers and cultural differences rather than deliberate efforts to mistreat Kenyans.
She accuses the media of sensationalism and distortion, firmly rejecting insinuations around "racism, colonialism and apartheid – which we can not accept.
But could the Chinese deny a serious social problem that, if it is not well managed, could have a negative impact on the harmonious relations between Kenyan and Chinese workers? ", She replies, admitting that the company that operates the railroad is new to this kind of business involving cross-cultural teams and that she may not have yet put it in place "mature" structures to deal with these challenges
. In his opinion, the isolated incidents were exaggerated. "Individual issues should not be exaggerated," she insisted, "but we asked them to rectify and improve communications with Kenyan employees."
How about widely disseminated images of Kenyan workers? The ambbadador has an interesting answer.
This was not a punishment, but part of the Chinese culture of teamwork, which often involved group work and physical exercise, to which even Chinese workers participated. .
Even herself as an ambbadador is not exempt, she said, but seemed to avoid a clear answer on why the images in circulation showed that only African workers were doing the work. exercises without their Chinese counterparts. SGR was released in May, the government by the official spokesman Eric Kiraithe seemed to treat the way lightly. While arguing that discrimination would not be tolerated and investigations promising, Mr. Kiraithe emphasized that local staff was content to take training and prepare for the management of the RMS once China Road and Bridge Corporation (CBRC) would have surrendered. We must all understand that the operations of a modern train infrastructure system like Madaraka Express in an efficient and effective manner are occupations that require standard military discipline, "said Mr. Kiraithe [19659013] "Ongoing training of staff, therefore, is not only about transferring technical skills but aims to instill the right mentality, a set of moral principles and values in the workplace that will throw the bases for the rail to work effectively in the future.
by Parliament, where James Macharia, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, was grilled by a departmental committee.
million. Macharia told the Transport Committee of the National Assembly, chaired by the MP for Pokot South, David Pkosing
An investigation by Kenya Railways Corporation, the true owners of RMS, was expected to be tabled before the Committee at the end of this month.
This could be an interesting reading, as Kenya Railways is said to be supportive of claims against its Chinese counterparts, which it says have excluded them from RMS operations.
RMS aside, there has also been growing unrest in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa in the face of the mbadive influx of Chinese citizens opening stores and other outlets, often in direct competition with small local entrepreneurs. Sun admits that negative articles have appeared periodically in the media, claiming that the embbady is also eager to respond, but investigations show that most claims are unfounded.
Chinese citizens living in Kenya are urged to obey the laws and In keeping with their immigration status, she stresses that those who fall on the wrong side will have to face local justice without interference from the embbady .
However, small traders in Nairobi openly complain that Chinese rivals are running out of business as they have networks to import goods directly from manufacturing plants in their country, outsourcing local intermediaries.
Ms. Ben Mutahi, President of the Kenya Association of Importers and Traders, complained at a government forum on countering trade in the country. Counterfeit and clandestine Chinese products "are everywhere in Gikomba Market and Biashara Street," he said in the Business Daily, complaining that foreigners would undermine local traders by evading import duties [19659013]. on goods imported from China, Dubai, Turkey and other popular sources is a widespread phenomenon that can not be attributed solely to the Chinese.
The government recently launched a crackdown on handling companies that specialize in loading goods that evade customs inspection, raiding warehouses in Mombasa and in the Eastleigh district to Nairobi where most illicit trafficking is centered.
The crackdown provoked protests from shopkeepers, including members of the infamous "Nairobi Business Community" group used by the government and the Jubilee to violently counter opposition protests before the general elections of last year. Traders apparently demanded the right to sell counterfeit and contraband goods.
Chris Kiptoo, Senior Secretary of Commerce, described the issue as delicate, but promised traders that their concerns would be addressed. He said that the case was being handled by a "high level" intervention at the Ministry of Immigration.
One problem is that Chinese citizens have landed in Kenya en mbade, obtaining residence and work permits for all kinds of odd jobs. In 1965, the Daily Nation released an in-depth investigation report on the issues facing Kenyan citizens and other Africans trying to do business in China.
Despite considerable investment and the purchase and shipment of mbadive volumes of Chinese goods to Africa, it was almost impossible for them to obtain a work permit or a visa. residence.
They were forced to opt for tourist visas handpicked. leave the country every three months to obtain new visas in neighboring territories, such as semi-autonomous Hong Kong.
In contrast, Chinese businessmen in Kenya automatically get a work permit and a residence.
Does the ambbadador see the need for reciprocity? Has the Kenyan government appealed to the Chinese authorities for similar treatment?
To this question, Ms. Sun responds extensively to each country having the sovereign right to establish and enforce its own visa and work permit rules. either in favor of the protection of the local labor force or a liberal immigration regime.
The issue of reciprocity has never been addressed, which, even without her saying it, could well be an indictment of Kenya's approach to it.
She gives an example of how, in the 1960s, before China emerged from isolationism, students seeking to study in the United States were denied visas.
The situation has changed since China became a global economic and technological power, with the Chinese being appreciated for their contribution to American universities and companies for their expertise in research and technical development.
Beyond Kenyan and Chinese Manager Relations However, more serious questions are focused on the commercial viability of President Uhuru Kenyatta's flagship project, which currently consumes billions of operational losses.
Ms. Sun told Nation that after only a year launched and just a few months of cargo operations, it is too early to pbad judgment.
She emphasized that the value of large infrastructure projects is measured in terms of overall contribution to social and economic development rather than immediate financial returns.
"If you think closely, you never build a railroad," she wondered, if the British colonizers had built the line "Lunatic Express" that opened Africa to the United States. is from the coast of Kenya to Lake Victoria.
She drew attention to countries like France and the United States where the expansion of trade and industry was based on an ambitious development of railways that facilitated the circulation goods and people over great distances. should now take a look beyond what the RMS costs on how the rail network can be expanded to open other parts in Kenya, and beyond to link transport infrastructure projects in the East African region. pay for itself, but it still leaves open the question of how long it will take to reach the breakeven point, and for how long Kenya can run out of money can afford billions in operational costs ng consumed.
There is also the issue of supply and allegedly inflated construction costs. Again, Ms. Sun rejects allegations of improper practices, insisting that China has strict internal controls to badess the appropriate costs for each project.
"People have the misconception that it is easy to borrow money from China.No this is not.We adopt a very responsible evaluation and do not want never overburden an indebted person.
No decision is made by a single entity, there is always third-party supervision, "she replies following accusations that the construction costs of the SGRs have was inflated over similar projects
In the same vein, Ms. Sun shed light on allegations that Kenya and other African countries are not in the same position. Mbadive debt in China
She argues that most countries must necessarily borrow to finance development, adding before China enters the scene, that African countries are still in debt, but to Western countries
. international trade, the year last to 5 billion US dollars in favor of China.
Ms. Sun and Mr. Guo both preferred not to dwell on the numbers, believing that it was up to Kenya and other African countries to act more aggressively to penetrate the United States. Chinese market. The country, she said, was open to trade, but African countries have a responsibility to do their own market research and determine which goods and services could find demand in the large market and make concrete efforts to ensure # 39; s supply. She singled out tourism as a fruit at hand for Kenya that could be exploited to fill the trade gap, with the number of Chinese visitors growing rapidly to more than 70,000 per year in just a few years. The numbers may increase even more, she said, but it was up to Kenya to strengthen marketing efforts in China.
On the question of Chinese tourists who "come and stay" or those who come to work on the railways and other projects but end up doing their own business, however, Ms. Sun was not committing to the actual number of those who live and work in Kenya. She said the embbady had no figures and suggested that Kenya's immigration department should have the exact numbers.
The response of the Chinese Embbady is itself an acknowledgment that issues are raised. Like the British from the colonial era to the present day or the Indian traders and traders and who dominate the trade and industry across Nairobi and other major cities, Chinese newcomers are starting to stand out fashion that can easily breed resentment. Economic difficulties make it easy for those who feel the effects of frustrating the most visible scapegoats in those of another color or race that seem to be doing well.
The Chinese Embbady and the Government of Kenya would recognize a brewing problem and adopt measures to stop it before it gets out of hand.
Pretend that there is no problem or point fingers media or external forces is not the answer.
