ABSTRACT
The author first visited Kenya in 1991 during his final year of undergraduate studies. The Chinese are bringing massive business investment to Africa. They are accused of low standards of labour, ethics and environmental responsibility, as well as the 'sin' of taking away local employment. In a survey conducted by Muthuri and Gilbert, among 70 companies operating in Kenya, they found that the most prominent sustainable business issues are education, environment, HIV/AIDS and health. Some of the sustainable business case studies cited by Muthuri and Mwaura include Unilever Kenya, Magadi Soda Company and Bamburi Cement. Magadi Soda Company inadvertently adopted a social welfare approach to corporate community involvement by establishing a company town with vital social amenities including housing, water, roads, railway infrastructure, a hospital, schools, entertainment facilities and places of worship. The strong focus on social and environmental issues reflects Kenya's strategic role in agricultural markets, especially tea, coffee and cut flowers.
