Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Trade relations between China and Africa are evolving, but Beijing's debt diplomacy has come in for criticism.
00:06But even if some African countries are hoping to reboot certain aspects of the relationship,
00:11they can't yet afford to turn their back on it altogether.
00:14Bastien Renouy brings us more from Kenya's capital, Nairobi.
00:19For more than 20 years, Kenya has been borrowing a lot of money to invest on huge infrastructure projects
00:24that several governments believed will help develop the country
00:28and will help bring more money in Kenya.
00:30But now the country is heavily indebted.
00:33Kenya's debt represents 70 percent of its GDP.
00:37And when it comes to borrowing, China is a key partner.
00:40Beijing owns more than 20 percent of Kenya's debt.
00:43It's more than six billion euros.
00:45Usually, China lends money to Kenya when it comes to huge infrastructure projects
00:50where it can send its own companies.
00:53It was the case for the highway between Mombasa and Nairobi.
00:56It was the case for Nairobi's highway.
00:58And every time we can see China's mark on this project,
01:02we can see many Chinese workers walking around.
01:06And also the architecture is not Kenyan, it's a Chinese one.
01:08It's the case for Nairobi's highway.
01:10Every entrance and exit on this highway are traditional Chinese houses.
01:15So many here wonder if it's a good idea to rely that much on Chinese money.
01:20Last year, Kenya had to repay one billion euros loan to China.
01:24And so many Kenyans are wondering if it's a good idea to use taxpayers' money
01:30to repay that debt instead of investing directly that money in Kenya
01:34to improve the life of Kenyans.