China bond may grow stronger

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com

IN SUMMARY

• Threats by West to have essential contact with Uhuru government may push him to the East

It is unlikely that President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta will drop the dalliance the Chinese perfected in the last decade President Kibaki has been in power.

As Finance minister, Mr Kenyatta was privy to discussions of mega infrastructure projects that have been implemented and those that are in the waiting list — the Lamu port, the railway to South Sudan and Ethiopia, Isiolo resort city and mass transport for Nairobi among others.

The fact that his maternal uncle, Mr George Muhoho, has had the ear of President Kibaki throughout his presidency means that Mr Kenyatta is likely to follow in the footsteps of his godfather, Mr Kibaki.

The Chinese appear to have learned the country’s politics, and their ambassador Mr Liu Guangyuan, was among the first leaders to congratulate the President-elect on his victory, even before the Supreme Court made a final call on the validity of his election.

As soon as the court declared him validly elected, the Chinese, through their spokesperson, Mr Shifan Wu, were at it again.

“We are ready to work with the new government of Kenya to deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas between the two countries, and to push forward the bilateral relations to a higher level for the benefit of the two peoples,” he said. China had already done its bidding.

Mr Kenyatta vied for the presidency with the West threatening “essential contact” with Kenya if he got to power. The reason is because he and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, are both suspects of crimes against humanity at ICC.

But even with the threats of “consequences”, he went on and campaigned, and hinted very strongly that if the West does not play ball, the East — China and Japan — were willing to do business with Kenya.

Mr Kenyatta also wooed East African Community when he made visits to Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi before the election. He became one of the first leaders in Kenya to send his condolences following the death of Uganda’s deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya early last month. Uganda is Kenya’s biggest trade partner.

His maths appear to be that if the West sidelines him, simply because he is wanted by the ICC, then he can still do business with the neighbours — including Ethiopia and South Sudan — rather than hassle with Europe and the US.

The British and the Americans have mellowed and recognised that he’s president. Their threat of sanctions may not be imminent
.