Kenya’s President William Ruto is embracing the US, UK and other Western countries, causing onlookers to ask whether the days of close Chinese engagement are coming to an end, reported the africa report.
Ruto, who defeated veteran opposition candidate Raila Odinga in a tight election in August, since taking office embraced Kenya’s economic and diplomatic relationships with the US and other Western countries, including the UK, causing onlookers to wonder whether the “Look East” policy of his predecessor, which saw Chinese-built infrastructure spring up across the East African country, is coming to an end.
Kenya is increasingly becoming a darling of the West when it comes to trade and investment, a momentous diplomatic deviation from the East, particularly China, which was the previous regime’s lodestar for nearly a decade, reported the africa report.
Since the new administration assumed office last September, Ruto’s several visits outside Africa have largely been to Western nations, including the US (twice), the UK, France, Belgium, and Germany.
After taking office, Ruto’s government released the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) linking Nairobi and Mombasa contract, albeit heavily redacted. And he delivered a shot across the bow to Beijing by allowing importers to choose their preferred means of transporting cargo from the Mombasa port, ending his predecessor’s policy of mandating use of the Chinese-built SGR. Many opted to transport goods by lorry, taking business from the railway.
Ruto’s clear overtures to Washington have been in stark contrast. And if Ruto has met China’s ambassador just once, according to public statements, the president and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua have met high level US officials almost 20 times since September, reported African Business.
Meanwhile, new UK foreign secretary James Cleverly’s first official trip was to Kenya in early December. Britain has pledged hundreds of millions for new investment projects in Kenya.
China’s predatory lending to the African country has raised concern over Kenya’s mounting public debt, reported African Business.
Moreover, Traders in Kenya and other rapidly growing economies in Africa have occasionally protested over their Chinese competitors.
China is Africa’s top trading partner and more than one million Chinese are estimated to reside on the continent, reported Nation.
