The government of the People’s Republic of China has offered to fund and build a new foreign affairs headquarters for Kenya.
According to the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei, the construction of the building is a gesture of goodwill from the government of China as the two countries mark a milestone of 60 years of diplomatic relations.
Further, Sing’Oei indicated that he had already met the team in charge of the design of the building. However, he did not reveal how much the Chinese government will use for the construction or the location of the new modern building.
Korir Sing’Oei.
“Grateful to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its commitment to support the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the construction of the Ministry’s new headquarters as a visible marker of 60 years of diplomatic relations.
“I received the technical team in charge of project design in my office,” he said.
Also Read: Protest as Video Captures Chinese Man Assaulting Construction Worker
Kenyans React to the Announcement on the Gift from China
While some Kenyans lauded the move and appreciated the government of China for the gesture, others have raised safety concerns over the building that will be constructed.
A user on X named Josh Kariuki shared a past article which alluded that the Chinese government installed spying devices on buildings constructed in African countries.
The May 2020 article by Voice of Africa (VOA) referenced a report by the Heritage Foundation, a U.S.-based conservative think tank, which stated that Chinese companies built at least 186 government buildings in Africa and 14 “sensitive intragovernmental telecommunications networks.”
“These buildings include residences for heads of state, parliamentary offices, and police or military headquarters,” the article read in part.
At the same time, others were concerned about pest infestation and whether the Kenyan workforce would benefit from the project.
“Who’ll do the interiors and fittings, because somehow your benefactor has had the notorious association in the past with insects, bugs and the like,” said Kariuki.
“Is this really your priority right now? X user Mania questioned, while Daniel Kama questioned where the new building will be located.
“Where will it be located? Same place or different location? ” Daniel Kama added.
Also Read: Chinese CEO Cornered Over Ksh4 Billion Paid for NSSF Project
Previous Chinese Projects in Kenya
The Chinese government has over the past few years overseen construction projects in Kenya including buildings, roads and the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
However, some projects have been recently brought to the limelight over irregularities including the construction of the of Hazina Towers, a brainchild of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
In April 2024, the Director of China Jiangxi International Limited Kenya was unable to account for money paid for the construction of the building which was downsized from 36 to 15 floors.
Moreover, the Senate’s Public Investment Committee raised concerns over the company’s refusal to pay NSSF the project mobilization fees totaling Ksh215,540,774.
On May 1, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah tabled a petition seeking to unearth an alleged Ksh777 billion overpayment of funds through the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Chinese constructors, before parliament.
The petition by Bernard Muchere, a fraud risk management consultant, wanted the lawmakers to establish the authenticity of the total amount spent to develop the SGR project indicating that the excess billions were paid to China Roads and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at the expense of taxpayers.
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