President Xi made a commitment to the heads of state gathered at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Johannesburg over nine years ago, stating that China would install digital TV service in over 10,000 isolated communities across 23 African nations.
The project is almost finished; satellite infrastructure has been installed in over 9,600 settlements.
The bold promise was given to StarTimes, a private Chinese business that is already active in numerous African nations, and was made public during a time of cordial China-African ties. The pledge was financed by China’s aid budget.
It was ostensibly a gesture of goodwill and a chance for China to use soft power in a strategically significant area.
In light of China’s economic difficulties and Beijing’s recent reevaluation of its Africa policy, the news traveled to four Kenyan villages to assess the success of this “soft power” effort.
Nicholas Nguku gathered his friends and family in the community of Olasiti, approximately three hours’ drive west of Nairobi, to watch Kenyan sportsmen compete in the running events at the Paris Olympics on television.
