What President Kenyatta and his counterparts across Africa should realise, however, is that they can only play the China card for so long.

Chinese aid is welcome and invaluable to our development, but we should look East with wise and open eyes, not like foolish virgins who don’t realise that the rich fellow bearing gifts is not a kind-hearted philanthropist. He will always want something in return.

By all means let us build on relations with China, but do so in ways that advance our national interests rather than just opening ourselves up to exploitation.

If we rightly are fed-up with neo-colonialism, we would be foolish to exchange one exploitative relationship for another.