China locks out Kenya from new debt relief deal

Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenyatta) and Xi Jinping (China).

Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenyatta) and Xi Jinping (China). PHOTO | FILE

The elevation of Kenya to the middle-income status saw China lock the country out of a new list of African nations that will receive a Beijing debt relief this year, under a plan by the world’s second-largest economy to help 17 poor states in the continent saddled with its huge loans forego their repayments.

The deal announced last week will see Beijing forgive 23 matured interest-free loans for 17 unnamed African countries, which are classified as least developed countries.