Why Americans are slowly clawing back the market from the Chinese

The Chinese presence in Kenya is visible through megaprojects, the use of their language on signboards, Chinese-made machines on construction sites and Chinese workers on such projects.

From Thika Superhighway to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Nairobi Expressway, Lamu Port and now the Rironi-Mau Summit Road, the Chinese presence is in concrete, for all to see.

Add some retailing too through China Square and a few other outlets. We know little of Chinese movies like Bollywood or Nollywood. We know little of their pop stars or movie stars. Remember Bruce Lee?

 Is that why one Chinese appliance maker, Haier, has used the English Premier League to advertise? Some Chinese media like Xinhua or CGTN are available, and so is the Confucius Institute, a counterweight to the American Cultural Centre, the Goethe-Institut or Alliance Francaise?

China’s entry into Kenya and Africa was a big “big bang." You can't fail to notice the mega projects.  It's also expedited through government-to-government channels, faster and less bureaucratic. Is the UAE trying to use the same approach?

China is a late entrant to the Kenyan market but cleverly made historical connections through Admiral Zheng He’s visit to Lamu around 1418, long before the Portuguese. Seen the Zheng He statue at SGR station in Mombasa?

On soft matters, China has been soft. Think of health, human rights, gender issues or even conflict resolution.

Add philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. How many Chinese non-State actors or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) do you know?

Contrast that with Western NGOs, some of which have been active since uhuru  (independence). China operates through its government or State-owned enterprises.

The US has scaled back on non-State actors by closing USAID. Many families in Kenya felt the closure. It was painful, but it makes sense in the long run with a shift to investment and trade. Never mind this; it will blunt the image of the US as a perennial benefactor.

The US has silently reacted to China's inroads into the Kenyan market. The silent response is perhaps informed by a fact: we culturally look west, but on economic models, we look east, with Singapore and South Korea as our benchmarks. The United States and the West in general know their "cultural space” is secure.

Our kids are still named Jayden, Ethan or Chloe, not yet Huang, Chen or Wang. Few boast of their relatives in China compared with the US or EU.

Remember, Kenyan-Americans are coming next month for holidays in attire that mimics astronauts’ while demanding to see managers in restaurants and other service points. Heard of Kenyan–Chinese?

 Kenyans and many Africans dream of immigrating and studying in the West; one reason they could be celebrating the defeat of Republicans in the midterm polls. We love Europe too.  Heard of anyone drowning in the Yellow Sea heading to China?  Mediterranean?

America is now becoming more visible in Kenya. Was that part of her long game?  Here are a few observations to support that.

There is a big advert on Kiambu Road for Budweiser, one of the popular American beers. That might not seem significant. But traditionally, we end our meals with a drink, soda, water, juice, wine or beer, depending on the traditions.

Is Budweiser “concluding” KFC or Burger King, both American brands? Is it an alternative to Coca-Cola or slowly returning Pepsi? I have heard this in many circles: when is McDonald's landing?

Add American hotel brands: JW Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Four Points by Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, and Best Western.  We can assume that American universities and movies are part of our popular culture.

They are getting competition, with prices from European universities, including Eastern Europe. Seen the adverts?

Seen the advert on Limuru Road opposite the Canadian embassy for American pretzels? The US is now focused on where it matters: food and accommodation. That never stops like road or rail projects.

You can now explain why tolls are becoming popular.  It's easy for me to identify American brands; I once lived in the US Deep South and left genetic imprints.

Noted the increase in the number of American car brands on the road? Jeep, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC and even Tesla. There could be more US-made cars if we kept right on the road.

How did Nigeria and Ghana, former British colonies, “shift” to the right on the road? What about Boeing planes owned by Kenya Airways? Lots of helicopters like Bell are American-made.

Am just looking at the commercial side of American presence. There could be more presence through security services.

Before we get carried away, remember Google and Microsoft software on your computers? And AI models: Gemini? ChatGPT? Grok?  What about Visa, McKinsey? Citibank? And how many churches have American links?

Culturally, the US has held a spell over Kenya, thanks to the media, movies, and migrants to America, who deepen the links to Kenya. Add the American dream.

This is turned into reality through immigration, commerce, trade and investment. The US is one of Kenya's key trading partners, defying the gravity theory of trade: we should trade more with countries closer to us. But America's economic size balances out distance.

What other evidence of US presence in Kenya have I left out? Did I forget US flag-themed attire, including matatu graffiti and business names that love American States? Texas is quite popular. Why?

China, it seems, is competing for our pockets, lags the US for our minds. Other contenders for our minds and pockets are ashore: France, Turkey, UAE, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Germany and  Russia,  among others.

Kenya is like a beautiful girl; everyone wants to win her heart. Who will marry her? Will too many suitors make hard for her to marry and consequences thereof?