96 % of Kenyans say China has biggest influence on the country - Report

According to the African Youth Survey 2024, 96 per cent of Kenyans said China has the greatest influence on the region, followed by the United States of America (94 per cent). 

Foreign powers have been vying for allies in Africa, with China's economic rise acting as a spoiler to the Western interests. 

"This notion of a “scramble” for diplomatic influence and natural resources where African states are utilised by global powers needs to take into account the actions of many African countries leveraging these powers against each other in order to achieve their own strategic interests," the report read in part. 

In particular, 65 per cent of African youths voiced their concerns about the impact of foreign companies extracting resources from their country, which doesn't benefit the locals. 

Additionally, there is widespread concern about corruption within foreign companies, with Cameroon (84 per cent), Botswana (81 per cent), Nigeria (80 per cent) and Kenya (78 per cent). 

"The exploitation and extraction of natural resources by foreign companies without fair compensation to locals is the primary driver of negative sentiment towards Chinese and American influence in the region, and the second highest factor behind negative perceptions towards Russia’s impact," the report read in part. 

China's influence in the continent, according to the report, has dropped in the past, from 83 per cent in 2020 to 76 per cent in 2024. 

This was attributed to the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, US-China trade tensions, changing trends in China's capital outflows and political priorities. 

On the other hand, 95 per cent of Kenyans said that China has also had positive influence on the country, highlighting affordability of Chinese products, Chinese investments and the country's commitment to supporting infrastructure projects.

President William Ruto is currently in China ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit. He is expected to ink deals that could benefit Kenya's infrastructure and other State projects.