US accuses China of exploiting Mombasa Port in Ruto’s Reign to advance its military
US accuses China of exploiting Mombasa Port to advance its military, Just three months into Ruto's Reign
US accuses China of exploiting Mombasa Port to advance its military, Just three months into Ruto’s Reign.
Three months into President William Ruto’s term, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission published its 2022 report, in which it accused China of utilizing Kenyan ports to achieve its military objectives.
In a report presented to the US congress, Washington accused China of making significant investments in the Mombasa and Lamu Ports.
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission suspected that the investment intentions were part of a sinister plot.
“The two upgraded ports offer China strategic commercial and trade advantages and also provide it with “dual-use” potential for military functions,” the US claimed.
The USA further accused China of advancing a military agenda in the guise of promoting peace.
“While promoting itself as a peace broker, China seeks opportunities to expand its military presence and promote its role as a strong yet helpful partner in Africa,” US Congress was told.
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission report became the first such allegation to be tabled during Ruto’s tenure.
In a statement published in 2021, the US Department of Defense charged China with considering Kenya as a potential location for a military post.
The Chinese embassy, however, angrily refuted US allegations at the time, saying, “The information is wrong…totally false.”
China referred to the report as a dirty trick used to secure trade and investment accords that was taken straight out of the cold war playbook.
In contrast to his predecessor, former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who developed close connections with Beijing, President William Ruto is perceived to be warming up to the West at the time of the release of the most recent US assessment.
Kenya is ready for further trade agreements with the US under the AGOA program, according to Ruto, who made this statement in October 2022 while meeting with a US group at the White House.
China on the other hand has invested heavily in Kenya with keynote infrastructural projects like Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Nairobi Expressway.
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