Author: Njenga Hakeenah

To reduce wildlife-human conflict, Simba came up with “predator bomas” which are 20 square meter cages that protect livestock from lions, hyenas and other carnivores. The funds for these bomas are provided by Simba’s partners from around the world, including the Chinese community in Kenya.

With the cages, Simba added that they do not get many conflicts.

In 2022, BasiGo, an early-stage e-mobility start-up, imported two electric buses from BYD, a Chinese conglomerate and the world’s largest EV company. The plan was to address the mass transport needs by providing these buses to enable the country’s shift to clean transport. The idea was to study the BYD technology and then replicate it in Kenya by locally assembling bus parts sourced from the giant Chinese EV manufacturer.

Chinese companies are said to have quietly joined Africa’s renewable energy revolution. In March 2023, China Power Construction Corporation held a special 10-day training program for Mali focused on energy supply chains, including construction and maintenance. It was the 112th such program in a developing nation.

The Chinese loan also comes at a time when Burkina Faso is seeking to improve its relations with international partners following the 2022 military coup and the ongoing geopolitics between Russia, the U.S., China and France.

By 2020, the global donkey population stood at 53 million, two-thirds in Africa. Using the estimated human population in Africa, simple math shows that one donkey serves at least 37 people, making it a critical resource for the continent’s economy.

The HK-EV car is retailing for $5,000 and the only upgrade will be a solar panel that can be glued to the roof of the car instead of the current one which is bulky and causes some drag while driving.

China's strategic investments through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) showcase its aspiration to play a role in the global energy infrastructure.

For Kenya, repaying its loans sustainably is now a matter of concern since the country’s currency is devaluing fast in what the Central Bank said is “adjusting from policy mistakes”.

If you look at the specific demands of many African countries, they are now more focused on production-related activities rather than fancy highways that lead to nowhere.