“PerceptionIsShapedbyLivedExperience”–Dr.OscarOteleonKenyanPerspectives

On 27 March 2025, Global Neighbours hosted a lecture and discussion in Vienna titled “Kenyan Perspectives on China: Findings from Afrobarometer Round 10.”

The keynote speaker was Oscar Otele, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi and Co‑National Investigator for Afrobarometer, a pan‑African public opinion research network.

During the visit, he presented findings from the 2024 Afrobarometer survey conducted in Kenya. The results show that more than 70 percent of Kenyans view China as highly influential. Positive perceptions of China have increased since 2021, particularly among younger, urban, and better‑educated respondents.

The survey also indicates that China is perceived as more influential than the United States or the European Union. According to Otele, these perceptions are closely tied to people’s everyday experiences, including exposure to Chinese infrastructure projects, products, and economic cooperation.

In the discussion that followed, participants explored how personal experiences, media narratives, and geopolitical developments shape public attitudes toward China. Additional topics included generational differences, regional perspectives, and the experiences of African students returning from China.

Participants included representatives from a range of organizations and institutions, such as the Austrian Development Agency, Africa-UniNet, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence, as well as diplomatic representatives and stakeholders from business, media, and civil society.