International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Political Strategy of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in East Africa: Insights from Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has emerged as one of the most influential global development and connectivity frameworks in the contemporary multipolar international system. While officially promoted as an economic cooperation initiative, the BRI also functions as a strategic political instrument, particularly in regions of high geopolitical and trade significance. This study examines the political strategy underlying China’s Belt and Road Initiative in East Africa, using Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) as a focused case study. The research analyses how historical China–Kenya relations, geographical positioning, and infrastructure financing mechanisms have shaped cooperation under the BRI. Kenya’s strategic location along the Indian Ocean trade corridor, combined with the importance of the Port of Mombasa as a regional gateway for East and Central Africa, makes the country a key partner in China’s global connectivity ambitions. The SGR, linking Mombasa to inland economic centres, represents a critical junction between maritime and land-based trade networks under the Maritime Silk Road. Through qualitative case study analysis and document-based research, this study explores debates surrounding debt dependency, political trust, and state agency. While international narratives often frame Chinese lending as “debt-trap diplomacy,” the findings indicate that Kenya retains significant political and legal control over its strategic assets. Financial challenges linked to the SGR are shown to arise not only from Chinese financing but also from domestic governance issues, overestimated economic returns, and global economic disruptions. The study concludes that the BRI in Kenya cannot be reduced to simplistic interpretations of exploitation or mutual benefit. Instead, it reflects a complex interaction of development needs, geopolitical strategy, infrastructure-led diplomacy, and national decision-making. The Kenyan case demonstrates how large-scale infrastructure projects simultaneously advance economic connectivity and political influence within the evolving global order. KEYWORDS Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), China–Kenya Relations, East Africa, Indian Ocean Trade Corridor, Debt Dependency, Infrastructure Diplomacy, Global Connectivity, Political Strategy