Communication keeps contractors' projects on track

Chinese contractors have earned a reputation in Kenya for good-quality infrastructure work, which has seen them win tenders from both the public and private sectors.

"My firm has been awarding most of its contracts to Chinese construction companies because they are diligent in their work, bid cheaply, do quality work, and complete projects on time," says Peter Muraya, CEO of Suraya Property Group Ltd, a Kenyan real estate company.

Today, more than 50 Chinese companies are working on projects aimed at improving the East African country's infrastructure. These projects have also created employment opportunities for young people struggling to put food on the table.

The ongoing construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, for instance, has created more than 38,000 jobs, according to a 2015 report by China Road and Bridge Corp, the contractor.

John Mruttu, governor of Taita-Taveta County, which the railway passes through, says the project has improved people's living standards.

"The employment opportunities created by construction of the SGR have transformed the lives of many people in my county," he says. "Most have built houses, while others have ventured into entrepreneurship."

However, despite the praise, Chinese companies must grapple with several challenges, the major ones being land wrangles with displaced communities, the safety of Chinese workers, and managing the local labor force.

"Land conflicts have been one of our biggest challenges. It takes a lot of time to claim land from local communities, thus delaying completion of projects," says An Aijun, deputy general manager and chief engineer of the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR project.

Mruttu says county governments affected by the railway should appoint liaison officers to work closely with the contractor, to reduce disputes between residents, workers and companies.

"Liaison officers should communicate with communities on the availability of job opportunities," he says, adding that they could also help resolve resettlement disputes by ensuring that people who need compensation are directed to the right officials.

"Most people don't know who to turn to, which leads to conflict. In other cases, activists take advantage of the situation with the pretense of fighting for citizens' rights. When this happens, things get out of control. So there's a need for clear communication."

Mruttu urges local communities to cooperate with construction companies so that they can complete projects on time, thereby improving livelihoods and the local economy.

"If already the effect of the project is substantial at the construction stage, it's likely the effects of its completion will be immense," he says.

When put into operation, the Mombasa-Nairobi link is expected to contribute 2 percent to the Kenyan economy. The line is designed to carry 22 million metric tons of cargo a year.

James Macharia, the cabinet secretary for infrastructure and transport, echoes the need for campaigns to inform communities near project sites about the opportunities created by infrastructure developments.

"Once communities understand the benefits of the improved infrastructure, they will not engage in conflicts with the contractors; instead, they'll support them," he says. "There should be an initiative of creating such awareness."

Mruttu adds that Chinese contractors should also appreciate the fact that Kenya is different from their nation in many aspects, such as in culture and the way business is done. "They should first understand how Kenyans work, how they relate with each other, and how they relate with foreigners. Having such knowledge will make their operations easier," he says.

Wainaina Gituro, a scholar at the University of Nairobi and the former director general of the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat, believes communities should understand that Chinese contractors are in the country at the behest of the government and are there to provide the unique skills needed to build mega-infrastructure.

He urges the Kenyan government to take more responsibility for ensuring that law and order is enforced at construction sites nationwide. This, he says, would improve investor confidence.

Local leaders also need to discern the opportunities projects bring to communities and help them to cooperate with Chinese companies, Gituro adds. "Both parties are poised to lose if there is lack of awareness about the projects."

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/19/2016 page28)