When we hear that Kenya is looking East, what comes to mind is roads, railway, bridges and other big infrastructural projects. China is regarded as the savior Kenya has been waiting for.
There have been claims that China will soon overtake the US as the world’s sole superpower. While I’m not in a position to dispute that, I think it will not be happening soon.
According to the World Bank, 67.8 % (902 million) of Chinese citizens are poor, earning less than $5 a day, or roughly KSh 13,000 a month. Even by Kenyan standards, Sh13,000 is very little money.
Of these poor, 27% earn less than $2 a day.
That explains why there’s an increase of Chinese nationals doing odd jobs here in Kenya. Some of these were involved in road projects which are now complete, but they did not go back home. In coming weeks, 5000 Chinese nationals will be coming here to build the Standard Gauge railway, and we should expect the same trend.
A few months ago, we had a photo of a chinese guy roasting maize in Westlands. Yesterday, more Chinese were spotted in Mlolongo, this time hawking shoes.
Journalist Saddique Shaban took these photos.
