After years of unfulfilled promises, a long-awaited paved road between Kenya and Ethiopia is finally becoming a reality, thanks to the efforts of Chinese road engineers. This road will replace a challenging rock track that currently connects Kenya's farms and port to Ethiopia. The section from Isiolo to Moyale is one of the remaining unpaved parts of the Great North Road, originally envisioned by the British to link Cape Town to Cairo. While previous attempts by Britain and Kenyan governments fell short, China is now taking the lead in constructing a vital trade route that will open up the previously isolated northern region of Kenya. This collaboration between China and Kenya reflects a common trend in Africa, where China's economic interests align with the development goals of African nations. The construction of the road in a beautiful but previously impoverished area is expected to bring economic benefits, such as increased tourism and trade. The project manager for China Wu Yi (Kenya) Co. stated that once completed, the road will improve trade and tourism in the region. The road is being built with funding from the African Development Bank and the Kenyan government. It is estimated that paving the road between Isiolo and Moyale could increase trade between Kenya and Ethiopia fivefold. Trade between China and Kenya has also seen significant growth in recent years. The Cape-to-Cairo road ends at the edge of Isiolo, where residents feel like they are at the border of two Kenyas. Many in the north feel disconnected from the rest of the country, with hopes that the improved road will bring in more tourists and revenue for the local community. However, there are skeptics who question China's intentions, reflecting the mixed feelings many Africans have towards the country's investment efforts. Some people in African countries such as Zambia believe that China is essentially colonizing Africa for its resources and flooding the market with cheap products. China, on the other hand, refutes these claims and points to its longstanding trade and cooperation relationship with Kenya spanning 50 years. In the case of Kenya, China is currently focused on reconstructing the initial section of the Isiolo-Moyale road to facilitate the transportation of heavy machinery to Merti, located around 80 km (50 miles) east of the 136 km (84.5 miles) of road it has committed to building. Furthermore, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Sweden's Lundin Petroleum AB are conducting seismic tests in Merti in preparation for oil drilling next year. In Isiolo, residents have shown distrust towards oil exploration following a failed venture in the 1980s. Suspicions have been further fueled by recent incidents, such as the shooting of a Chinese engineer by bandits near the Merille River on April 21. Tribal elders believe the engineer was targeted due to a perceived lack of employment opportunities for locals in the project. According to Wu, the majority of the project's workforce were Kenyans, with all day laborers being from the area. After the shooting incident, the Kenyan government deployed its elite paramilitary General Service Unit to the Merille River area to disarm young people and establish a security presence. It is widely believed that the construction of the road will greatly benefit northern Kenya and could potentially bring an end to years of neglect. During the colonial era, Isiolo served as an outpost on the outskirts of the closed Northern Frontier District, which covered a large portion of Kenya from Uganda and Sudan in the west to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east. George Cardovillis, a Kenyan with Greek ancestry, explained that during those times, Europeans were not permitted to reside in the area due to its dangerous conditions and harsh climate. The government instructed them to continue traveling over 600 km south to Maralal. From Isiolo to Ethiopia, the landscape remains barren with black volcanic stones and red sands, similar to when Cardovillis' ancestors journeyed south by donkey train. The sun still shines intensely, casting heat waves on the land, while mountains appear in the distance under a hazy sky. Water is difficult to find in this harsh environment. Electricity, telephone lines, and many other services are nearly nonexistent in this area. Despite its remote and undeveloped nature, Kenya's national parks here are some of the most pristine and untouched. Just 50 km past Isiolo, there are three game reserves that are comparable to the famous Maasai Mara in terms of the abundance and diversity of animals. This is where Joy Adamson, the author of "Born Free," settled to raise leopards before her tragic death. Jayne Nguatah, the manager of Sarova Shaba lodge in Shaba park, believes that their occupancy rates will double once the road construction is completed. The Sarova Shaba, located on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river, will serve as a Christmas gift for us. The main lodge, built like a treehouse and overlooking a natural spring, is frequented by baboons and monkeys. However, challenges such as banditry and tribal clashes, fueled by weapons from neighboring conflicts in Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda, hinder the development of a sustainable tourism industry in northern Kenya. Security forces are spread out thinly as nomadic herders continue to search for pasture and water for their livestock. While some herders still follow traditional practices, others now carry modern weapons such as AK-47 assault rifles or Sterling-Enfield rifles from colonial times. Despite the presence of Chinese engineers working near Isiolo, doubts remain about whether the road will reach Moyale to the north. Plans to extend the tarmac beyond the current Chinese construction are still in the planning stages. Trader Gumucha Gisiko expressed his skepticism about the promised road after waiting for 45 years, stating that he will only believe it when he sees it.