China’s influence on Kenya’s Growth?

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Will we see red?

Will we see red?

Hey Guys,

I have been dwelling on the impressive Economic growth of China over the last 30 years. The country’s policy is not decided by a notorius parliament or president (Democracy) but by a commitee of leaders of the Chinese Communist party.

There may not be democratic freedoms like those we find in Kenya but the country is developing at a rapid rate so much so that European countries have been forced to form the European Union to stand a chance against the Chinese Industrial Machine.

In 20 years time the Chinese Military, Space Program will be at par with the Americans. In 30 years time they will have replaced the United States as the world super power together with India joining by 2050.

The West has been forcing democracy down Africans throats by using Development Aid as bait. The result has been Ethnic conflicts around  the continent with different Ethnic groups fighting for the famed National Cake.

Africa has lost many years with this model (Democracy and Multi Party tribal nonsense) and it is only until the Chinese began buying concessions for raw materials, oil et al in exchange for building roads,ports and stadiums has made Africa’s economy begin to expand rapidly as well.

If you think about it Western AID has largely been about expenditure i.e. giving money for government run programs like education and health etc. In exchange African countries are forced to open up their markets to Western goods and even most projects which are Western funded force the Governments to hire Western Experts and pay them at Western rates. Therefore the Africans accrue debts while Aid destroys our own industry and make us dependents for life akin to the intravenous drug user who requires a regular fix.

Its only till China came into Africa and gave it a fairer(there are still some issues) deal for its resources is when Western development agencies are trying to scramble some visible development projects. Otherwise its been 60 years of hard exploitation that we must learn from.

Reports in the Financial Times show that Kenya’s government is in talks with Beijing over development of a multi-billion dollar port and transport corridor that could provide a new export route for Chinese oil in southern Sudan.

The cash-strapped Kenyan government opened negotiations with Qatar over a potential $3.5bn investment in the port project late last year in return for a lease on 40,000 hectares of land to grow crops. But no deal was struck and Raila Odinga, the Kenyan prime minister, indicated to the Financial Times that he now viewed China as better suited to the project.

“The Chinese offer the full package,” he said, referring to the combination of financing and technical expertise that state-backed Chinese banks and construction companies have rolled out across Africa.

A Kenyan delegation led by Mr Odinga flew to China late on Wednesday for talks on the project involving the construction of a port in the popular tourist area of Lamu, and road and rail links to Kenya’s borders with Ethiopia and southern Sudan.

Kenya’s government is in talks with Beijing over development of a multi-billion dollar port and transport corridor that could provide a new export route for Chinese oil in southern Sudan.
The cash-strapped Kenyan government opened negotiations with Qatar over a potential $3.5bn investment in the port project late last year in return for a lease on 40,000 hectares of land to grow crops. But no deal was struck and Raila Odinga, the Kenyan prime minister, indicated to the Financial Times that he now viewed China as better suited to the project.

This shows that Kenya and other African countries have finally learnt the art of engagement and playing to powers (West and East) against each other which truthfully has been Africa’s problem a failure to learn how to liberate itself economically and safe guard our interests.

In conclusion perhaps we should review this democratic system and replace it with a Council of Elders with Chief Elder as Boss. This is what China has done in a nutshell. I am sure a framework can be worked out around using the different African head of states to form a governing council at the top. Democracy should not precede POLICY. It is not the end but the means to the end.

If you think this is a joke just look at the Military display China put up for the world during its 30 years of COMMITEE rule. The sleeping giant has awoken from her slumber.

P.S. The video is in Chinese which is good considering we may very soon start speaking that Language.

Discuss?

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  • http://whive.com/profile.php?user=paulmwai Paul Mwai

    Hi John,

    You raise some valid points but you are forgetting some factors that could limit your arguments accuracy.

    Firstly China is using its Dollar reserves to buy minerals,oil,land and other assets all over the Globe.

    In this way its transfering its Dollar problem to other developing nations in exchange for a better reputation as a better development patner then the western nations and their disastrous AID packages.

    This is creating growth world wide and new smaller but nevertheless growing markets for its products like pirated softwares,DVDs and clothes.

    In effect its using its own dollar reserves to undermine the American economy in the long run while developing other tertiary markets.

    China also has a growing middle class and excess labourers numbering 50 million who will always be out of a job and will therefore maintain wages at lower rates then the world maintaining its competitive advantage.

    Chinas soft diplomacy is winning it a strong position globally and any bubble will serve only to sink the American economy while China having developed South east Asia, south America and Africa will have reliable young markets..

  • John Karanja

    Thats is true and its beginning to make sense now. Thanks :)

  • http://www.twitter.com/zulusafari zulusafari

    How has China given Africa a ‘fairer’ deal for it’s resources? You’re comparing free aid from the west to China paying next to nothing for pillaging the resources of Africa.

    I’m no fan of aid, but there’s a lot of holes in your argument to show that you don’t understand the wider dynamics of economics and the cultures of both China and Africa.

    My argument would go something like this (in a nutshell):
    The politics of the west and other nations playing with the nations in Africa over past years to jockey for position has left the African nations feeling like a school boy being bullied by two competing bullies. (we’re talking about gov’t aid, not free hand out development & emergency aid) It’s sad, but the reality of the past. Today’s aid requires nothing of it’s gov’t or people. China comes in and works with the big dogs (no doubt handing out bribes) and takes Africa’s resources in return for (kickbacks and bribes) a long nice road and other development. They can do this b/c they have a ton of cash on hand. But in the long run, Africa’s resources will pay zero dividends. No long-term growth or development will be realized. All the while, the already rich politicians in Africa get richer.

  • John Karanja

    @zulusafari China has is doing barter trades with Africa which helping boost the infrastructure of the continent. The deals in the DRC congo are astonishing.

    But you are right Africa needs to learn how to do business with rest of the world while protecting its interests.