- Another pivotal component of the people-to-people diplomacy is the establishment of Confucius Institutes in Kenya.
- These institutes, hosted in four universities, play a crucial role in promoting the Chinese language and facilitating cultural exchanges.
As a global player in the arena of soft power diplomacy, China has consistently championed people-to-people diplomacy, and determined to strengthen the interconnection of civilisations globally.
This commitment is demonstrated through initiatives such as expanding educational and research opportunities, sharing knowledge and ideas, fostering human resource development, preserving cultural heritage and promoting tourism.
In Kenya since the establishment of its embassy in Nairobi on December 14, 1963, and the subsequent appointment of its first ambassador on February 5, 1964, China has diligently advanced its people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to the creation of an empowered and harmonious society.
From the outset, China has been unwavering in its commitment to enhancing Kenya's educational and research capabilities. A key moment occurred during President Daniel Arap Moi's inaugural state visit to China in September 1980, resulting in the signing of an economic and technological cooperation agreement.
The agreement included commitments from Beijing to construct the Moi International Sports Centre, provide technical support to two new universities, offer scholarships and facilitate military and cultural exchanges. True to the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, China successfully fulfilled all agreements during President Moi's state visit.
The collaborative efforts between the two nations in completing the construction of the Moi sports centre were monumental when Kenya hosted the fourth All-Africa Games in 1987. This iconic stadium continues to stand as a symbol of development in Kenya.
Additionally, China constructed a teaching hospital at Moi University in Eldoret and supplied teaching equipment to Egerton University. Between 1982 and 2023, China has offered more than 1,500 government-sponsored scholarships to Kenyan students.
This initiative has significantly increased the number of Kenyan students studying in Chinese universities, marking a notable departure from the previously "preferred traditional study destinations" for most students during the post-independence era.
In strengthening cooperation in human resource development, vocational and professional training, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kenya has successfully trained tens of thousands of Kenyans across various sectors and educational levels, both locally and in China.
Locally, the training has been achieved through the construction of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, which is designed to cultivate talent in scientific research. The centre houses more than 45 joint research programmes, addressing diverse areas such as pathogenic microorganism detection, biodiversity, geographic science, remote sensing, high-yield and quality crop cultivation demonstration, and land and water resources management.
Similarly, the Kenya-China Joint Laboratory for Crop Molecular Biology at Egerton University contributes to genetic improvement in horticultural crops and other crops at the molecular level. These centres not only equip scientists with knowledge but also enhances food security in Kenya.
Further, the technical and vocational education and training rest firmly on the twin-pillars of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The TVET programme, founded through the policy framework outlined in Sessional Paper 14 of 2012 on Reforming Education and Training Sectors in Kenya, aligns seamlessly with Kenya's Vision 2030, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Unesco's TVET strategy.
Being a towering nation in the people-to-people diplomacy, China has indeed invested heavily in skilling the Kenyan youth to meet the requirement of the emerging markets.
To effectively implement these strategies aligned with Kenya's vision 2030, China has employed a dual approach involving government-to-government agreements and private sector and institutional-based agreements. Noteworthy projects include the Luban workshop at Machakos University, where Kenyan students access world-class courses in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and software development.
Additionally, through collaboration with the private sector, particularly with AVIC International, China supports projects aimed at elevating the quality of vocational training in Kenya. The African Tech Challenge programme, in partnership with Kenya's Ministry of Education, seeks to enhance the employment capacity of local youth through vocational skills training and competitions, fostering integration with the industrial chain.
Another pivotal component of the people-to-people diplomacy is the establishment of Confucius Institutes in Kenya. These institutes, hosted in four universities, play a crucial role in promoting the Chinese language and facilitating cultural exchanges.
Thus, embedded within the philosophy of "development as partnership", people-to-people diplomacy has bestowed global public goods upon Kenyans, and its benefits will be felt through many generations.
Dennis Munene is API executive director of the China-Africa Centre and PhD candidate on Development Economics at UCASS - China