As the end of the year approaches, reporters enter rural areas in western Kenya, where Chinese overseas builders are working overtime on construction sites to build rural roads. The stories of mutual understanding, mutual assistance, and friendship between them and the local villagers are continued here every day due to their road connection. Following the smooth asphalt road of the 643 section of the Kenyan rural road constructed by Chinese enterprises, tea fields with rolling green waves, banana plantations with low hanging fruits, and fields with straight corn ears unfold one after another on both sides, and small shops occasionally come into view. Trucks, agricultural vehicles, and local motorcycles raced past, giving people a sense of the vitality and energy of rural development. In the hilly region of western Kenya, Nyamira County is renowned for its abundant rainfall and fertile soil, making it a high-quality production area for agricultural products such as tea, bananas, and avocados. However, for a long time, the impassable rural roads and rugged dirt roads have become obstacles to development, resulting in the inability to transport agricultural products, difficulties for villagers to travel, and difficulties for students to go to school. In recent years, China Electric Power Construction Municipal Construction Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Electric Power Construction Municipal") has built hundreds of kilometers of intersecting asphalt rural roads in the county. Among them, the 643 section is the most representative one. Although it is only about 60 kilometers long and only 70% has been built so far, it connects the surrounding villages and farms... The once bumpy "muddy road" has transformed into a smooth and smooth "road to prosperity", bringing new changes to the local rural development. When it used to rain, tea and bananas couldn't be transported out at all and could only rot at home. ”Julius Meazza, the village chief of Keneni, pointed to the newly paved road in front of his door and exclaimed, "Now that trucks drive directly to the edge of the fields, they can quickly deliver the tea picked that day to the processing plant, ensuring better tea quality and increasing the income of the villagers!" This asphalt road winding through the banana plantations not only shortens transportation time, but also connects to the regional trade network of several surrounding counties, allowing tea and other specialty products to enter a broader market. Qiao Zhen, the project manager of the 643 section of the Electric Power Construction Municipal Engineering Project, said that during the road construction process, they often received requests for help from schools and hospitals along the way, often involving filling in depressions, leveling roads, etc. They tried their best to generously help and established deep friendships with the locals. Manga Girls' High School is often flooded due to its low-lying terrain. Qiao Zhen started arranging and brought more than ten trucks of sand and gravel materials for paving to elevate the school's playground and other road surfaces. "This was a small effort for us, but it solved a long-standing problem for the local residents," he said. The reporter and his group walked into Manga Girls' High School, and the students in class excitedly shouted "China! China! Thank you," Vice Principal Sara Kimani said. "In the past, many children dropped out of school due to muddy roads and difficult walking, but now school buses and motorcycles can pass smoothly, and the student population has increased from about 500 in the past to over 700. Thanks to convenient transportation, more teachers are willing to teach in remote areas, and the flow of teaching resources is also smoother. During the construction process, I often interact with villagers, which enhances our understanding and friendship. ”Fan Gaoxin, Executive Deputy Manager of the Project Department of Section 643 of the Electric Power Construction Municipal Government, said that currently, Chinese builders and managers are proficient in using Swahili, and villagers along the road have also learned a lot of Chinese. Fan Gaoxin recalled that once he was adjusting equipment on a construction site when it was about to rain. Peter, a villager in his 80s nearby, invited him to his home to take shelter from the rain and warmly welcomed him to dinner. "It's hard to refuse, I accepted the invitation." The old man prepared a rich meal, including fried fish, stewed beef, sweet beans, thin Youbing (Deep-fried round and flat dough-cake), rice, vegetables, juice, yogurt. The old man showed me old photos of his family and introduced them to the local situation, "said Fan Gaoxin. The experience of being a guest was very warm, and both parties agreed to meet again next time. With the smooth flow of highways, the business of "Boda Boda" drivers is also becoming increasingly prosperous. Douglas, the driver of the motorcycle, told reporters, "Due to poor road conditions and high vehicle wear and tear, the number of passengers is relatively small. Now, we are busy picking up and dropping off students, farmers, and vendors every day, and our income has doubled." As of now, the Electric Power Construction Municipal Government has built a total of 31 rural roads in Kenya, with a total mileage of over 1580 kilometers. Qiao Zhen stated that the project adheres to localized management, creating a large number of job opportunities for the local area and training a group of technical workers. At the same time, the project focuses on engineering quality and ecological protection, and reasonably plans the drainage system during construction to adapt to rainy weather and ensure the long-term durability of the road. Austin O'Brien, resident project engineer at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, said, "Chinese builders have laid a solid foundation for the construction of rural infrastructure in Kenya with their professional competence and excellent technical level. These roads are not only transportation projects, but also related to people's livelihoods and hope, interpreting the concept of Africa China cooperation and shared development." From muddy to flat, from blocked to connected, black ribbon like roads are quietly changing the face of rural Kenya. The road is open, the industry is alive, children are laughing, and life is on fire - on this land, the story of China Africa cooperation driving development continues with the paved roads. (New Society)