Media portrait of Chinese investment in Africa: a case study of Kenyan Standard Gauge Railway

The main objective of this study is to analyze the role of media representing Chinese Investment in Africa through the case study of Kenyan Standard Gauge Railway with a focus on how the media has framed the incident, either including or excluding certain objects and the intention behind. As China increases its economic influence globally, Africa is viewed as one of People Republic of China’s (PRC) most important strategic partners. The nexus of development has shifted from a traditional ‘North-South’ relationship to multiple polarities of emerging countries, which focus the debate of China in Africa. China has been seen as the key global actor in development financing and intervention that constitutes new forms of engagement in the development structure (Richey and Ponte, 2014). This study is examining China’s growing geo-political influence in Africa amidst the many competing geo-political power interests in the continent. It provides an in-depth analysis on how Chinese investments as a ‘new’ development actor are reported in the media visa–ver western development interventions.