Two Competing Views of the New Chinese-built Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway Line in Kenya

The Chinese-financed and constructed Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya is an extremely polarizing issue for many people in Kenya and throughout East Africa. Critics of President Uhuru Kenyatta see it as a financial boondoggle that will never pay for itself, leaving future generations to pick up the tab. Supporters see the railway as a critical step in the country’s path towards industrialization.

Today’s launch of the highly-anticipated Nairobi-Naivasha phase of the SGR sees these competing narratives struggling for dominance, with international commentators like the Chinese state media also adding their two cents.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
5
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity
6
Rubio to Welcome Asian ‘Quad’ Back to Washington

You Might Like

With a $1 Billion Payment Due, Kenyan MPs Call on Government to Renegotiate SGR Loan Deal with China

Kenya’s National Treasury is calling on the parliament to provide it with $940 million dollars for the latest instalment to repay China for the controversial Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). The Treasury’s request prompted ...

Is Default the Next Step for Kenya’s Embattled Standard Gauge Railway?

The Chinese-financed and built Standard Gauge Railway is losing money at an unsustainable rate of $9.2 million per month prompting renewed calls in parliament for the State House to renegotiate the 

China, Debt and the Future of Kenya

The investigative series Africa Uncensored broadcast a riveting one-hour documentary on Kenyan national TV last night that explored the country’s ballooning national debt. The program highlighted how, as Kenya’s largest bilateral creditor owning ...

How Much Does Kenya Owe China to Build and Operate the Various SGR Lines?

It’s not clear at this time if the decision to expedite the handover of some SGR responsibilities from Afristar to Kenya Railways is part of the ongoing debt restructuring talks that are purportedly ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP