STORY: Kenyan employees of Chinese firms honored in speech contest on Belt and Road Initiative
DATELINE: Oct. 14, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:49
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the awards ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PATRICK NYANGWESO, CEO of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNNCI)
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CONCILIA OWIRE, Locomotive driver, SGR
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JEANEE MAY ONGIYO, Head of Public Relations, MOJA Expressway company

STORYLINE:

Ten employees of Chinese companies based in Kenya were awarded on Friday after they emerged as winners in "The Belt and Road: My China Story" Speech Competition, organized by the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association.

The inaugural edition of the contest began in September where 60 participants won in the preliminary rounds and advanced through the intense stages of the semifinals, which culminated in the selection of the final ten contestants.

The Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association said that the competition is a tribute to the exceptional contributions made by tens of thousands of Kenyan employees of Chinese enterprises who have worked to strengthen Sino-Kenyan relations.

Patrick Nyangweso, the chief executive officer of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a trade lobby group, said that from the perspective of the private sector, the BRI has been a game changer for the East African country's economy.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PATRICK NYANGWESO, CEO of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
"In terms of expanding market opportunities, most of the markets that businesses couldn't really access have really been opened up under the Belt and Road Initiative. In terms of infrastructure development, as a private sector, I want to say the extensive infrastructure has really opened avenues for the businesses, especially on areas of railways, highways, and this has really facilitated the movement of goods and services."

He said that some of the projects that Kenya has realized as a result of being part of the BRI include the modern Standard Gauge Railway connecting the port of Mombasa and the inland port of Naivasha.

Concilia Owire, who took first place in the competition, said that the contest enabled her to share with the public the benefits that the BRI has brought into her life.

The 29-year-old, who was the first female locomotive driver at the SGR, currently works as an assistant manager at Afristar Railway Operations Company which operates the SGR.

Owire was also appointed as the main driver of the maiden trip of the Nairobi-Mombasa SGR when it was launched in May 2017.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CONCILIA OWIRE, Locomotive driver, SGR
"The Belt and Road Initiative personally has given me a platform to showcase what it means to be given an opportunity as a woman. Because without this particular initiative, I wouldn't have been a female locomotive driver and with the women empowerment, you find that most women are being given the opportunities."

Jeanee May Ongiyo, who is the head of public relations as well as the spokesperson at MOJA Expressway Company which operates the Nairobi Expressway, said that Kenya has reaped fruits as a result of being part of the BRI.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JEANEE MAY ONGIYO, Head of Public Relations, MOJA Expressway company
"It has had a significant impact, especially because it has really contributed to the growth of the economy."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)