Is China’s debt diplomacy good for Africa?

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00:00Trade relations between China and Africa are evolving, but Beijing's debt diplomacy has come in for criticism.

00:06But even if some African countries are hoping to reboot certain aspects of the relationship,

00:11they can't yet afford to turn their back on it altogether.

00:14Bastien Renouy brings us more from Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

00:19For more than 20 years, Kenya has been borrowing a lot of money to invest on huge infrastructure projects

00:24that several governments believed will help develop the country

00:28and will help bring more money in Kenya.

00:30But now the country is heavily indebted.

00:33Kenya's debt represents 70 percent of its GDP.

00:37And when it comes to borrowing, China is a key partner.

00:40Beijing owns more than 20 percent of Kenya's debt.

00:43It's more than six billion euros.

00:45Usually, China lends money to Kenya when it comes to huge infrastructure projects

00:50where it can send its own companies.

00:53It was the case for the highway between Mombasa and Nairobi.

00:56It was the case for Nairobi's highway.

00:58And every time we can see China's mark on this project,

01:02we can see many Chinese workers walking around.

01:06And also the architecture is not Kenyan, it's a Chinese one.

01:08It's the case for Nairobi's highway.

01:10Every entrance and exit on this highway are traditional Chinese houses.

01:15So many here wonder if it's a good idea to rely that much on Chinese money.

01:20Last year, Kenya had to repay one billion euros loan to China.

01:24And so many Kenyans are wondering if it's a good idea to use taxpayers' money

01:30to repay that debt instead of investing directly that money in Kenya

01:34to improve the life of Kenyans.

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