Chinese language unlocks opportunities for Kenyans

Nicole Shitolwa, Mandarin Chinese teacher at Crawford International School shows children how to pronounce Mandarin Chinese tones using body movements. [Jacinta Mutura, Standard]

The demand for Chinese language is steadily growing in Kenya, offering a wide range of professional opportunities.

With the increasing presence of Chinese companies and investments in the country, knowledge in the Chinese language has become an asset, particularly in sectors like construction, engineering, tourism, and education.

Noobert Njoroge, the founder of Geek Interpretation and Translation, and the Kenyan Chinese Speakers Association, explains the evolving landscape.  “Chinese has a very big space in Kenya, and it’s going to keep on growing. I really encourage people to take it up because there are multiple sources of income directly related to Chinese. It could be in interpreting, training interpreters, or even in the arts,” Njoroge said.

Njoroge’s career in training, translation and interpretation has spanned over a decade. He now leads an association of over 765 Chinese speakers in Kenya, which provides mentorship, professional support, and opportunities for personal development to its members.

For a big part of his career, Njoroge also did court translations where a Chinese person or company is accused, or a Chinese person is accusing someone and there’s a language challenge. Building his history as a court interpreter in Kenya also earned him an opportunity to work at the African Court on Human and People’s Rights in Arusha.

For a session in Nairobi, a translator is paid about Sh2000 and if they travel out of Nairobi, one can make between Sh5,000 and Sh7000 per appearance.

Kenyans working as translators in Chinese companies earn between $100 (Sh12,900) and $150 (Sh19,300)per day for short-term projects and those working on long-term projects take home between Sh100,000-Sh150,000 per month.

Currently, there are about 400 Chinese-owned companies in Kenya.

Mastery of the language has gone beyond translation and now encompasses the transfer of technical knowledge. According to Njoroge, engineers and technicians who speak Mandarin Chinese are often called upon to facilitate understanding during the installation of Chinese machinery and equipment.

They also translate manuals to ensure that Kenyan workers understand how to operate and maintain new technologies brought in by Chinese firms.

Chinese language proficiency is proving valuable in various sectors.

The tourism sector is emerging as a major market for Mandarin speakers. Njoroge highlighted how Chinese tourists have specific interests, such as birdwatching or visiting historical sites, and local tour guides who speak Mandarin are in high demand. “With more Chinese tourists coming into the country, there is a growing need for Chinese-speaking tour guides, drivers, and hospitality workers. We could see up to a million Chinese coming in Kenya annually,” he said.

The other big space will be in creative industry. “Content creators can talk about the beautiful sceneries we have in Kenya. You can go to the coast but do a tour that is aimed at attracting Chinese people to the coast,” said Njoroge

His sentiments were echoed by Nicole Shitolwa, a Mandarin Chinese teacher at Crawford International School, who observed a growing interest in the language among students.

“We are seeing more students, who, especially want to do technical courses or things that have to do with information technology. You find that children are very interested in those things,” said Shitolwa.

She added, “China is the best in terms of Artificial Intelligence. You’ll find that children who are interested in coding, gaming, want to do their education in the East,”

The tutor notes with the rise of technology, most things and careers will be technology-based. 

Michael Njoka, Mandarin Chinese teacher at Woodcreek School during a lesson. [Jacinta Mutura, Standard]

The rising number also lead to more students getting scholarships to go to China, especially sponsored by the Chinese embassy in Kenya.

As China strengthens its presence in Africa, Kenyan educational institutions are incorporating Mandarin into their curriculums. Schools and universities are increasingly hiring Mandarin teachers to equip students with this skill.

Currently, there are four Confucius Institutes at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta Universities, Moi and Egerton Universities offering Chinese language and culture.

In addition, several Confucius classrooms have also opened in secondary schools in Kenya. Under the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) center, the Chinese language is now one of the foreign languages taught in schools.

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief Executive Officer Professor Charles Ong’ondo  says Mandarin Chinese was introduced to Kenyan schools to fill the gap in the demand of people conversant with foreign languages.

These include Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, French, and German in the country. Chinese Mandarin was introduced in the CBC in 2017 with experts’ recommendations that foreign languages should be introduced from an earlier age.The language is currently offered as a learning area from Grade Four to Grade Nine as co-curricular activities. Foreign languages are also taught in Senior schools.

“The world has become a global village and there is a lot of movement or mobility of foreigners coming to Kenya, sometimes even to have companies and establish work, potential establishments,” noted Ong’ondo 

“With the modernisation and industrialisation and the world moving to the East, more people are taking up the active course in the language,” said Faith Nyamboki, Curriculum Development Officer- Mandarin Chinese at KICD.