In a recent interview, Mwangi Wachira, a former World Bank economist and Kenyan government advisor, highlights the Belt and Road Initiative's (BRI) transformative impact on Africa, particularly through infrastructure projects like the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, which enhance logistics and trade.

Over so-called "debt traps" issue, Wachira noted that much of Africa's debt is owed to Western institutions rather than China. He emphasizes that African nations actively seek funding for projects aligned with their own needs, challenging narratives of dependency.

He also advocates for "modernization African style," promoting an approach in which African countries define their own development paths without external pressure. Wachira praises China's non-interference policy, contrasting it with the more prescriptive methods of Western nations.