Two years after a deal with India's Adani Group to modernize Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport fell through, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a state-owned Chinese firm, has secured a $1.2 billion contract to carry out the airport upgrade. This move follows a similar pattern in Kenya’s infrastructure sector, where CRBC replaced France’s Vinci in a major highway project, partnering with another Chinese company. Under the initial agreements, the Kenyan government assumed most project risks, prompting concerns over rising public costs.
These developments highlight China’s expanding role in Africa’s infrastructure landscape. Local media report that CRBC has obtained contracts valued at $9.3 billion across Kenya. Analysts attribute China’s growing footprint to its comprehensive project packages—including financing, construction, and operations—and its ability to offer more flexible, cost-effective terms than Western competitors. Aly-Khan Satchu, a Nairobi-based expert on sub-Saharan African geoeconomics, observed that Western firms tend to be less competitive due to higher costs associated with operating risks in the region.
Indiana University Bloomington assistant professor Hong Zhang characterized this shift not as a sudden change but as part of a broader trend in which emerging market players fill gaps left by the retreat of Western companies. Zhang noted that European and American firms have increasingly concentrated on higher-value segments such as consultancy, assembly, manufacturing, and facilities management, areas in which they currently dominate, while Chinese companies focus more on lower-margin construction projects.
Experts also point to structural differences in costs explaining China's competitive edge. G. Vude Moore, a fellow at the Energy for Growth Hub, noted that China’s status as a capital-surplus nation means its expertise and financing costs are typically lower than those of firms in Europe or the United States. This dynamic aligns with global economic patterns where China leads in goods production and the U.S. excels in services.
China’s dominance, however, faces growing competition from Turkish and Gulf-based companies. Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi, for example, has been involved in several railway projects in East Africa, including Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam to Dodoma line and Uganda’s Standard Gauge Railway connecting to Kenya. The Ugandan government reassigned the contract from a Chinese firm after financing delays. Turkey competes strongly on labor costs and has narrowed capital cost differences, while the United Arab Emirates leverages financial resources to reduce costs and attract skilled labor.
Dubai-based DP World exemplifies Gulf investment in African infrastructure. The company manages container terminals across the continent under long-term agreements, overseeing key developments such as the Port of Berbera in Somaliland, Senegal’s Ndayane deep-sea port, and berth expansions at Mozambique’s Port of Maputo.
Jing Gu, director of the Centre for Rising Powers and Global Development, emphasized the increasing multipolarity of Africa’s infrastructure market. Turkey, the UAE, and other emerging actors bring diverse capabilities in capital, logistics, port and aviation management, construction, diplomacy, and risk tolerance. This evolution marks a shift from the simplistic narrative of “China versus the West.”
Satchu further highlighted that Turkey and the UAE have clear strategic approaches focused on African infrastructure that align with their broader regional objectives. Both countries benefit from state-supported initiatives and cultural or trade ties—particularly Turkey in North Africa, where cultural affinity enhances competitive positioning.
Gu concluded that the landscape transcends binary competition, involving multiple players including Chinese companies, Gulf investors, Turkish contractors, Indian conglomerates, African pension and sovereign funds, as well as multilateral and development finance institutions. This diversified environment is reshaping the future of infrastructure development across Africa.