New details have emerged about seven Chinese companies that have benefited the most from mega-contracts under President Uhuru Kenyatta regime.
According to Business Daily, January 5 Edition, just seven companies from the Asian nation controlled major projects valued at over Ksh1 trillion.
China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) received the highest contracts followed by China Road and Bridges Corporation (CRBC), which is undertaking the construction of the Nairobi Expressway at a cost of Ksh65 billion.
Collectively, the two companies have gotten tenders valued at Ksh777 billion since the Head of State stepped into power in 2013.
Several other companies including China Wu Yi, Synohydro and Jiangxi Engineering have also received projects worth billions of shillings.
Other companies that have rounded up the Ksh1 trillion project beneficiaries are China Railways 21 Bureau Group and Third Engineering Bureau of China City Construction Group.
This development comes even as Kenyan construction companies struggle to land mega projects and are left fighting for smaller projects.
During his tour of the Nairobi Expressway in mid-December 2021, Uhuru noted that since he stepped into power, Kenya's relationship with China strengthened resulting into an improved development record.
He noted that, as a result of the partnership, over 420 kilometers of roads and other infrastructural projects have been done for the benefit of Kenyans.
“To date we have done so many roads in our inner cities. Over 420 kilometers have been done to ease transport for our people.
“Our partnership with China is one that is mutually beneficial and is based on a win win and we are very grateful to the Chinese government for the support that they continue to render not only to our country but also to the rest of the countries in Africa,” stated the Head of State at the time.
Transport CS, James Macharia, in a recent interview, also explained that the country had a knack for hiring Chinese companies due to their first speed in project delivery.
He also noted that the companies have high-skilled people and work for 24 hours.
"When we opened the bid for the first lot, the winning bidder was at Ksh7 billion but we had some European bidders which I will not mention which had gone up to Ksh18 billion.
"So, when people say we are giving the Chinese, am I going to give a project for the sake of not giving Chinese at Ksh18 billion when it could have been done at Ksh7 billion the same standard?" He explained.
