The narrative regarding China's presence in most African countries has been dominated by views of the Chinese as the new colonialists of Africa, finding strategic new ways to exploit Africans and their resources.[i] However, this discourse is narrow, emphasizing state-led investments in Africa, and does not account for growing Sino-African relations at the grassroots level and socio-cultural dynamics. In East African countries such as Kenya, growing numbers of independent Chinese migrants are settling throughout the country and influencing the lives and communities of Kenyans. The implications of uncovering these stories and the cultural interactions between Chinese migrants and African publics at the grassroots levels are two-fold. First, focusing on the socio-cultural aspects of China-Africa relations expands the debate from economics and trade to determining how exactly cultural exchange can also fuel Africa's development. Second, this analysis allows for a more nuanced understanding of the different forms of Chinese involvement in Kenya. Chinese migrants in Kenya form a distinct community. Not only are they seen in most spheres of Kenyan society, but they also assert their values and practices through different social and cultural means. The proliferation of the Chinese language, food, and work ethic, and a rise in interracial relationships are the most notable sociocultural impacts experienced by the vast majority of Kenyans, in cities such as Nairobi and more rural regions such as Kirinyaga County.[ii]

The Importance of Language

Kenyan youth, primarily middle and lower-income, are seeking out language skills in Mandarin.[iii] China's growing political and economic presence in the country has impacted unemployment rates, and Kenyan youth are now looking to China for employment opportunities. Those aspiring to become language translators, working in multilateral business, or studying abroad in Bejing are gradually looking to the East instead of the West as a possible alternative for success. Learning mandarin serves as a gateway for potential economic, professional, and educational opportunities that are not always available to lower-middle class Kenyans. The increase of Chinese language schools, some founded by Chinese migrants and others by locals, and the 5,000 plus enrollment numbers from Kenyan youth and entrepreneurs in some Confucius Institutes reveals an increasing demand for Mandarin language acquisition.

Food and Culture

With the sprawl of Chinese restaurants from Westlands to Ngong Road, most of the Kenyans in Nairobi agree that the growing consumption of Chinese food is the most visible cultural impact of Chinese migration.[iv] Although not as popular in rural regions such as Kirinyaga County, the rise of Chinese restaurants, retail stores, and the Chinatown between Hurlingham and Kilimani are offering viable alternatives in terms of taste and prices. Another important aspect of this cultural exchange is the growing incorporation of Chinese spices into traditional cuisine.[v]  As a businesswoman from rural Kenya explained, "They have adjusted the local taste and the local way of cooking so now you find us using the little sachets of soy sauce when we make our pillaus." Kenyan women in Nairobi also equally expressed this sentiment.

Interracial Relationships

Another distinct social impact, especially in rural regions such as Kirinyaga County, is the increase in interracial relationships between Kenyans and Chinese migrants. Chinese migrants that either come independently or through large state projects have begun to set up small businesses that on several accounts have led to them integrating within local communities and building social connections. There was a more welcoming and accepting disposition towards Chinese migrants in Kirinyaga County compared to Nairobi, where most expressed skepticism and disproval towards the group. This difference can be partly explained by more open interracial marriages, an influx of biracial children, and the growth of economic activities witnessed within the community. While this was not completely absent in Nairobi, Chinese migrants in Kirinyaga County were making efforts to integrate by learning local languages such as Swahili or Kikuyu, eating local foods, and assimilating into the local culture through marriage.[vi]

Varying Attitudes Towards Chinese Migrants

With a society as diverse as Kenya's, Kenyans may react to foreign migrants differently based on their experiences and social standing. In this case, determinants such as region, class, and education helped influence the skepticism and hostility towards Chinese migrants among urban Kenyans.

These same determinants also influenced acceptance and openness among rural Kenyans. High levels of income inequality have relegated 90 percent of Kenyans to poor living conditions, and have affected their access to healthcare, education, and employment. Such realities produce a viable explanation as to why there are more acceptance and openness towards Chinese migrants among lower-income Kenyans in both Nairobi and Kirinyaga County.

Chinese migration signals the possibility of new opportunities in fields such as health care, business, and education, fields that were previously unavailable to lower-income Kenyans. For example, Chinese migrants decrease unemployment by hiring local Kenyans to work in their small businesses. Chinese migrants also increase the purchasing power of many low-income Kenyans by producing inexpensive consumer goods for the economy. In contrast, middle and upper-class Kenyans face different realities due to their socio-economic standing and are consequently more critical of Chinese migration.[vii] It is possible that a mixture of distrust for China's state-level involvement in Kenya, combined with the fervent need to reject foreign control due to past legacies of colonialism, has made this particular group of Kenyans more distrustful of Chinese migrants.

Conclusion

This research suggests that the discourse of Chinese citizens in African countries is far more complex than that of the current literature. We should continue to pay close attention to the rapid developments taking place at the local level in Kenya and across Africa. Being aware of these transformations as Africans should empower us to seek strategic partnerships for social change with Chinese migrants, create impactful opportunities, and stimulate more technological and skill-based sharing between Chinese migrants and Africans on the continent.

Let's start thinking ahead.

Ruti Ejangue is a recent graduate from American University, having studied international relations and economics. She was a former Africa Program intern during the spring 2018 term. 

[i] Howard French, "China's Second Continent. How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa," (New York: Alfred A Knopf, 2016).

[ii] Intrigued by the influx of Chinese migrants in Kenya and the impact they are having on Kenyan sociocultural dynamics, I conducted a five-month qualitative, interview-centered field study from August to December 2017, in Nairobi and Kirinyaga county. My goal was to understand how exactly different Kenyans are adapting to Chinese migrant populations and the specific factors that shape their responses and perceptions. Known as the gateway to East Africa, Kenya is not only home to some of the largest international organizations but has also attracts migrants from different parts of the world due to its status as the economic and cultural hub of the region. With the ripe business opportunities found in Kenya, it is no surprise that Chinese migrants, just like other African migrants are flocking cities such as Nairobi or Mombasa in search of economic profits and better livelihoods.

[iii] Based on interview responses from over 25 Kenyans in both Nairobi and more rural regions such as Kirinyaga county.

[iv] As described by one upper-class Kenyan in Nairobi "Chinese food is much more appreciated, the food is affordable and there is a lot of it. It is much more appreciated than Indian food that is pricier...On Sundays, you can't find a free Chinese restaurant its all packed after church."

[v]  From interviews with local women in Kirinyaga county and Nairobi.

[vi] Based on interviews with local men and women in Kirinyaga county.

[vii] A professor at the University of Nairobi expanded on this sentiment when they said "I don't expect myself at this level to see a Chinese migrant as an advantage to me and I will not, because I understand what they want so it will not be the same for someone who is in the rural or one who has not gone to school probably they will be looking at them like 'you're our way out'."