Development or Dependency? China's Growing Influence in Kenya

By BAYAN WEDDY KANANA

Kenyan President William Ruto with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the Road and Belt Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People on October 18, 2023.

However, this progress has raised an important question: is Kenya developing sustainably, or becoming dependent? While these projects bring visible benefits, the structure of the agreements often limit local participation. Chinese loans are typically tied to Chinese contractors, meaning the same country financing the project also controls its execution. As a result, Kenyan engineers are frequently sidelined—not due to lack of skill, but because they are not given the opportunity to lead.

Another concern is debt. Kenya has borrowed heavily to finance these developments, with a significant portion owed to Chinese lenders. If these projects fail to generate enough revenue, repayment could strain the economy and limit national decision-making. This creates fears of economic dependence, a key feature of neo-colonialism.

Supporters argue that Kenya willingly enters these agreements and benefits from fast, efficient development. Unlike historical colonial powers, China does not impose direct political control. 

Still, the imbalance in power and control raises valid concerns about long-term independence.Ultimately, the issue is not whether Kenya has engineers—it does. The real question is whether the country is creating systems that allow them to lead. For development to be meaningful, it must empower local capacity. Otherwise, progress risks becoming dependency rather than true growth.