Assessing the Socio-Economic Impact of the Chinese Transfer of Values, Skills, and Technology in Infrastructural Development in Kenya

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.4.2.121

Authors

Keywords:

Globalization, Socio-Economic Impact, Infrastructural Development

Abstract

This study assessed the socio-economic impact of Chinese principle of transfer of values, skills and technology in infrastructural development in Kenya. This study was based on dependency, modernization and power theories which informed the conceptual framework of the research.  This study adopted descriptive research design. Data was collected by the use of Questionnaires, interview guides and focus group discussion and desk top review. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used for data analysis and presentation. The data obtained was presented in bar graphs, tables and percentages. The study found that during Chinese infrastructural development in Kenya,  the informal sector benefited from China's skill transfer. The study concluded that Kenya-China bilateral relations has impacted positively on Kenya's international relation which is indicated by increased Foreign Direct Investments into Kenya by specifically Western states. The researcher recommends that Kenyan government should formulate a policy that will ensure that the technological skills impacted on Kenyan workers by the Chinese construction firms should be improved and included in the Kenyan schools’ curriculum.

Dimensions

Abdirahman, S. (2020). The Economic Impact of Chinas Relations with Africa: Case Study of Kenya (Thesis, University of Nairobi).

Africa Policy Institute. (2014). China in Kenya, A Tale of Two Dreams. Africa Policy Institute.

Agbebi, M., & Virtanen, P. (2017). Dependency theory - a conceptual lens to understand China's presence in Africa? Forum for Development Studies, 44(3), 429-451. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2017.1281161

https://doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2017.1281161

Alden, C., & Davies, M. (2006). A Profile of the Operations of Chinese Multinationals in Africa. South African Journal of International Affairs, 13(1), 83-96 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10220460609556787

https://doi.org/10.1080/10220460609556787

Bashir, S. (2015). The imperative of skills development for the structural transformation of subSaharan Africa: Potential for China-World Bank-Africa collaboration. Investing in Africa Forum. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Benjelloun, W. (2015). China-Africa Co-Operation: Capacity Building and Social Responsibility of Investments. Johannesburg, South Africa: South African Institute of International Affairs.

Brautigam, D. (2009). The Dragon's Gift: The Real story of China in Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Brown, D. E. (2012). Hidden Dragon, Crouching Lion: How China's Advance in Africa Is Underestimated and Africa's Potential Underappreciated. Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep11272ism.

Chen, D. P. (2014). Constructing Peaceful Development: The Changing Interpretations of "One China" and Beijing's Taiwan Strait Policy. Asian Security, 10(1), 22-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/14799855.2013.874337 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14799855.2013.874337

https://doi.org/10.1080/14799855.2013.874337

Corkin, L. (2016). Risk and Reward: China Exim Bank in Angola. In L. Corkin (Ed.), Uncovering African Agency (pp. 89-112). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315549354-13

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315549354-13

Fourie, E. (2014). 'Model students: policy emulation, modernization and Kenya's Vision 2030. African Affairs, 113 (453), 540-562. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adu058

https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adu058

Githaiga, N. M. (2021). The Successes and Challenges of Kenya's Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway Transport Operations: A Special Reference to the Users. Research in World Economy (In Press). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5430/rwe.v12n2p258

https://doi.org/10.5430/rwe.v12n2p258

Githaiga, N. M., Burimaso, A., Bing, W., & Ahmed, S. M. (2019). The Belt and Road Initiative: Opportunities and Risks for Africa's Connectivity. China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies, 5, 117-141. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2377740019500064 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S2377740019500064

GoK. (2008). Kenya Vision 2030 (Popular Version). https://vision2030.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Vision-2030-Popular-Version.pdf

Haroz, D. (2011). China in Africa Perspectives on China in Africa. A Fahamu Books and Pambazuka Publication.

Hussain, A., & Tribe, K. (1981). Marxism and the Agrarian Question: German Social Democracy and the Peasantry 1890-1907. Hong Kong: MacMillain Press Ltd. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03961-6

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03961-6

Kioko, P. (2011). A Study on Chinese's Economic Relations with Africa: Case Study Kenya. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1998050 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1998050

Lenin, VI (1964). The Development of Capitalism in Russia. Moscow: Progress Publishers.

Lin, Y. Y., Swanson, D. P., & Rogge, R. D. (2021). The Three Teachings of East Asia (TTEA) Inventory: Developing and Validating a Measure of the Interrelated Ideologies of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Tao. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 626122. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.626122 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.626122

Mbaye, S. (2010). Matching China's Activities with Africa's Needs. In A. Harniet-Sievers, S. Mark, & S. Naidu (Eds.), Chinese and African Perspectives on China in Africa (pp. 39-53). Pambazuka.

Mlambo, C. (2022). China in Africa: An Examination of the Impact of China's Loans on Growth in Selected African States. Economies, 10, 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10070154 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10070154

https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10070154

Mlambo, C., Kushamba, A., & Simawu, B.M. (2016). China-Africa Relations: What Lies Beneath? The Chinese Economy, 49, 257-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10971475.2016.1179023. Accessed: 22 Apr. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10971475.2016.1179023

https://doi.org/10.1080/10971475.2016.1179023

Moyo, D. (2009). Dead aid: Why aid is not working and how there is a better way for Africa. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Nantulya, P. (2019). Chinese power supports its Growing Strategic Interests in Africa. Spotlight, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, January 17, 2019.

Onjala, J. (2008). A Scoping Study on China - Africa Economic Relations: The Case of Kenya. African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Nairobi, Kenya.

Pius, J. (2022). China-trained Kenyan youth independently steering modern train service. https://english.news.cn/20220525/80dd8293e92b4c41a018eeca947d621e/c.html

Procopio, M. (2018). Kenyan agency in Kenya-China relations. In New Directions in Africa-China Studies (pp. 173-188). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315162461-11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315162461-11

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315162461-11

Sanghi, A., & Johnson, D. (2016). Deal or No Deal Strictly Business for China in Kenya? No. 7614, Washington DC: World Bank Group. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-7614 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-7614

https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-7614

Sautman, B., & Hairong, Y. (2009). African Perspectives on China-Africa Links. The China Quarterly, 199, 728-759. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27756499 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S030574100999018X

https://doi.org/10.1017/S030574100999018X

Sun, Y. (2015). The Sixth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation: New Agenda and New Approach. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/china-africa-cooperation-sun-2.pdf

UNICEF (2012). Whitepaper on China's Foreign Aid. UNICEF.

Wambare, J. (2017). Railway deepens China's Africa links. BBC Africa. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40092600

Wanjiku, S. (2018). Effects of Kenya's bilateral relations with China on Economic Growth of Kenya (2000-2015) (Master's Theis, Kenyatta University).

World Bank (2013). Time to shift gears, accelerating growth and poverty reduction in the new Kenya. World Bank.

Zeleza, P.T. (2008). The Roots of African Conflicts: The Cause and Costs. The International Journal of African Historical Studies, 4(2), 1-34.

Published

2023-11-19

How to Cite

Oyugi, W. W. A., Okoth, P. G., & Odhiambo, E. O. S. (2023). Assessing the Socio-Economic Impact of the Chinese Transfer of Values, Skills, and Technology in Infrastructural Development in Kenya. African Journal of Empirical Research, 4(2), 1195–1203. https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.4.2.121

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2023): Jul-Dec 2023

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2023 Winnie Winfrade Awuor Oyugi, Pontian Godfrey Okoth, Elijah Onyango Standslause Odhiambo

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC