China and Kenya have maintained solid relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1963, and Kenya has benefited a lot from China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Through current platforms the initiative provided, African young generations are learning to live on their own via expertise, manpower and talent shared by China.
According to Kenya residents Uhuru Kenyatta, young Africans have never known how to use cement and concrete to build houses or roads. However, Chinese firms in Africa have taught them these necessary skills.
Through working on improving human resources, in turn, China helps construct infrastructure in Africa and drive Kenya's economic growth.
Mombasa-Nairobi railway is one of the projects built by China, showing a high degree of cooperation between these two countries. The 472-km Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) launched commuter train service on May 31, 2017. Dubbed "Madaraka Express", the SGR commuter train has so far ferried an estimated 1.4 million passengers by June.
Data shows the project has employed 72,000 local employees and trained more than 5,000 railway technicians. Over 2,000 local students studied in the cooperative educational school will serve as good backup for the future railway operation and maintenance.
This model of cooperation is going viral throughout the African continent. Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta said he believed that it shows strong potential for profits.
"And I reckon it will produce a win-win result for whoever involved. That's why we have keen interest in this program and I believe also as a continent partnering strongly with China, this initiative will bring people together, share opportunities, spur trade and create employment," said the president.
As the proverb reminds us; "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Since the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2015, China has provided professional training to 150,000 African people and 30,000 scholarships to African students.
