Kenya’s cooperation with the Far East, particularly with China seems to be deepening with time. In a drive to create sufficient sources of energy for its industrial and home use needs, Kenya has entered yet into another partnership with China to set up a 50 Megawatt solar plant. The plant is said will be one of the largest solar plants on the continent.
Liu Xianfa, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, said during a media briefing that the solar plant will be established in Garissa County, in northeastern parts of Kenya.
“China Import-Export Bank will provide a concessional loan to Kenya in order to complete the renewable energy project,” said Liu. “After extensive research and mutual exchanges between the two countries, China has listed Kenya as one of the pilot countries to benefit from industrial cooperation with China.”
China has grown to become Kenya’s biggest financier, biggest construction projects contractor and the second biggest trading partner. The value of the volume of bilateral trade between Kenya and China reached over $5 billion in the year 2014 alone; a 53% increase from the year 2013. China’s contract investment in Kenya stood at $600 million in 2014; a 10% increase from 2013.
Liu went further to state that China-Kenya cooperation in science and technology has also expanded over the recent years. He cited the construction of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. In April 2014, China handed the second batch of equipment to Kenya’s National Youth Service in a move driven to employ more Kenyan youths.
