China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on Monday hosted the Kenya-China cultural exchange festival at Mavoko in Machakos County.
According to Julius Li, External Relations and Corporations Manager of the company in charge of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, the festival is significant to both countries as it marks key milestones both have undertaken through working together harmoniously and integrating different cultures.
"We would like to thank the Chinese Embassy for providing us with this opportunity to host such a key event as this seeks to show great efforts that both Kenya and China have undertaken to ensure good relations," said Li.
Li said more Kenyan firms would be beneficiaries of the project asserting that several local companies were already supplying raw materials.
"We wish to state that so far, we have signed purchase agreements with 450 local suppliers and subcontracted over 50 local partners. We are currently in talks with another 50 local firms for partnerships in different areas," Li explained.
The manager disclosed that in the course of building the new railway, CRBC is looking forward to recruiting 30,000 local employees at different sections in eight counties where the railway line will pass through.
Lai said the project had already employed approximately 25,009 directly and indirectly adding that remaining employees yet to be recruited will have different expertise in the post-construction phases.
"CRBC has launched a technology transfer training centre for the SGR project to ensure that once the project is complete and handed over to Kenya Railways Corporation's team, there would be a large pool of Kenyans with the appropriate technological knowhow," he said.
Chinese and Kenyan teachers and students from the Confucius Institutes of leading Kenyan universities, together with SGR project staff from both countries, performed a dozen of shows, with the Kenyans performing Chinese dances.
The plays presented by Confucius Institutes attempted to display the integrated Chinese and Kenya culture Chinese SGR project staff showcasing Kungfu skills.
Lai said the art performances had been regarded as a platform to strengthen the culture integration and enrich recreational life for Kenyan and Chinese colleagues.
The function was also attended by the Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinett.