Kenya is a friend in need and China is the friend indeed

China has increasingly become a major economic and development partner in Kenya and the whole of Africa creating a paradigm shift from our former colonial masters, the west. I grew up in a village in Siaya county seven hundred kilometers west of Nairobi City, despite the remote locality of my birth place, the fascination of the popular martial arts and Kung Fu movies could not escape my attention at the age of 10 years. I remember vividly fetching firewood to sell in the nearby shopping centre, Bondo town in order to buy a Bruce Lee movie ticket at five shillings during school holidays. So addictive were Bruce Lee movies that the language barrier did not matter, superman indeed. Like many Kenyans, I grew up believing that all Chinese are specialist in Kung Fu and stepping on their feet could lead to dental formula rearrangement, and that Chinese are so alike that one cannot easily differentiate them from each other.

Over the twentieth and twenty first century, Chinese influence in Kenya has grown to its peak in various sectors of the economy. We have expanded our infrastructural development through major projects such as Thika Super Highway, Kisumu International Airport just to name but a few through the Asian Tigers' superior expertise, concessional loans and grants. Moreover, the setting up of the Chinese Confucius institute in various universities in Kenya and the commercial ventures have opened up the Chinese culture to the curious Kenyan people.

My personal experience with Chinese people started when I secured an employment opportunity with China Overseas Engineering Group Co. Ltd, COVEC, in August 2011. I got the job through a competitive process; truly Chinese firms are the equal opportunity employers having provided numerous job opportunities to many Kenyans in various sectors. Working in COVEC opened a new learning window in my life where I have been able to approve or disapprove my earlier believes about Chinese people. I have learned a lot from the zealous energy, aggressive working nature of Chinese people, the art and fruits of working twenty four hours seven days a week, the unwavering patriotism to their country and the delicious Chinese cuisine.

Despite all the development achievements from Kenya - China Corporation, nothing touches my heart more than the "Chinese for Kenya" in September in 2011. This was an initiative aimed at aiding the people of Turkana perishing in hunger. The Chinese Embassy led by His Excellency Ambassador Liu Guangyuan mobilized individual and company contribution and logistical support from all the Chinese related organizations in Kenya. The response was overwhelming and metric tonnes of flour, beans and money were assembled for distribution in Turkana.

I represented our company, COVEC, leading two lories to loading site in Nakuru and the journey was flagged off by His Excellency the Ambassador Liu Guangyuan, the Minister for Special programs Hon. Esther Murugi, Mr. Li Qiang, the Chairman of Kenya - China Economic Trade Association and Turkana member of parliament Hon. Josphat Nanok among many dignitaries on September 19, 2011. We began the long journey the following day from Nakuru with sleep-over in Kitale. The journey from Kitale to Lodwar through the dilapidated, insecure, dusty road was full of hills and valleys and prone to attack from the militia and cattle rustlers roaming free in the nearby bushes. I was really amazed by the fearless and selfless Chinese colleagues whom we built a formidable team and convoy stopping together whenever one of the Lories developed a mechanical problem and reaching our destination as one family. On arrival, we assembled and prepared for the donation distribution the following day.

The distribution of the donation was launched by Mr. Han Chunlin, the counselor of Economic and Trade Association at the Chinese embassy accompanied by the chairman and secretary general of Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association, Mr. Li Qiangi and Mr. Wan Dongheng respectively together with area local leaders in Lodwar. We distributed one thousand bags of beans, 60 tonnes of maize flour, cooking oil and money in four different centers around Lodwar town benefiting over nine thousand hungry Turkana people.

This was a heart touching gesture and empathy from the Chinese people who contributed generously, transported their donations enduring the harsh condition to feed hungry and starving Kenyan souls. During the journey to and from Turkana, we interacted, ate and slept in the same hotels as a family, how simple and down to earth are these people? The whole process was a great success and demonstrated to Kenyans how far our development partners can sink with us during hard times. I really feel challenged on how China feed her populous nation of more than 1.3 billion people with the available scarce land. This is an area worth exploring from agricultural technological magic implementation to disaster and relief management, Kenyan people should take a great lesson.

Food Donation exercise in Lodwar.

Happy Turkana residence carry their food home.

Kenyan government currently grappling with overwhelming wage bill can learn great austerity measures from the Chinese people to whom corruption is a capital offense, handouts are unheard off, no wander they are branded 'mean' by people used to free manner from 'hell' but I have realized accountability runs in their blood from the personal to public resource management and the uncompromised patriotism to their mother country, as they explore the world, they send their salary and invest back home.