China to fund Kenyan road and rail schemes as it seeks support for tariff stance
Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to finance the construction of Kenyan roads and railways including the rebuilding of a notorious accident black spot.
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Xi made the pledge when he welcomed his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto[1] to Beijing on Thursday, promising also to support "high-level connectivity, and sustainable trade".
The funding he pledged will include work to rebuild the Nithi Bridge in central Kenya, a notorious death trap that has claimed hundreds of lives since its commissioning four decades ago.
The plan involves the building of a viaduct that will remove the steep descents and sharp corners that make the bridge so dangerous.
Kenya is a key partner for China's Belt and Road Initiative[2] - a transcontinental infrastructure project - that has already helped build a rail link between Mombasa, Nairobi and the Central Rift Valley at a cost of around US£5 billion.Advertisement
These projects are among 20 deals Kenya secured from China, covering infrastructure, trade, education, and the digital economy.
References
- ^ Kenyan counterpart William Ruto (www.scmp.com)
- ^ China's Belt and Road Initiative (www.scmp.com)