This archive report was first published on 7 July 2019.
Published on July 7, 2019, Kenya has secured commitments from foreign investors to build over 300,000 affordable housing units as part of the government's Big Four Agenda.
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia announced that two Qatari firms have committed to construct 200,000 houses, while a Chinese multinational will build at least 100,000.
Mr. Macharia made the announcement after a visit to Qatar and China, where he held talks with the Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Chinese Transport and Communications minister Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti.
During the visit, Mr. Macharia also attended the coordinators meeting of the Beijing Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, where discussions mainly focused on industrial promotion, facilitating trade, infrastructure connectivity, training, peace, and security.
Mr. Macharia urged the Chinese investors to dedicate more resources to manufacturing in Africa and to continue helping Africa develop the skills of its people by admitting more students to Chinese universities and offering internships.
Kenya's exports to China were valued at Sh11.1 billion in 2018, while imports from the Asian country totalled Sh370.83 billion.
Mr. Macharia noted that Kenya and the rest of Africa are uniquely positioned between the world's two largest trading blocks — the USA and China — and that the country's position as the gateway to East Africa and the Great Lakes region is augmented by the Mombasa port, the recently developed roads, and the standard gauge railway.
