Kenyan Journalist Reflects on Life, Culture, and Technology in Beijing

Kenyan journalist Daniel Ogetta returned to Nairobi after completing a four-month fellowship in Beijing through the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC).

The programme brought together media professionals from around the world, combining structured briefings, field visits and informal exchanges. Ogetta said the most lasting lessons came from everyday interactions that revealed the complexity of Chinese society. Conversations with colleagues and encounters with locals emphasised the importance of context in reporting.

Ogetta noted the extensive integration of technology into daily life in Beijing. The messaging platform WeChat serves multiple roles, acting as a social network, payment system and service hub. Unlike Kenya’s M-Pesa, mobile transactions carry no extra fees, making cash largely obsolete. Phones function as wallets, tickets and maps, and residents navigate the city’s services almost entirely digitally.

However, accessing familiar international platforms was challenging due to China’s internet restrictions. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) were necessary but often unreliable.

Beijing presented a mix of modern and traditional environments. Wide highways and high-rise apartments coexist with centuries-old hutongs. The city’s transport system, including subways and cycling networks, allows residents to move efficiently. Seasonal changes, from humid late summer to cold winter, affect the rhythm of life and the city’s atmosphere.

Food offered another window into Chinese culture. Communal dining, from street fare to formal banquets, reflects traditions of sharing and negotiation. As a vegetarian, Ogetta carefully navigated meal choices, yet he observed the cultural significance of dishes like Beijing duck.

Ogetta witnessed how traditional practices persist alongside rapid modernisation. Elderly residents practising tai chi in courtyards illustrated the continued presence of heritage. Visits to the Great Wall and participation in national events such as Golden Week showed how collective rituals shape social life.

Experiences with Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, challenged his assumptions about healthcare, while transport innovations, from bullet trains to navigation apps, demonstrated practical applications of technology in daily life.

Back home, Ogetta adjusted to the familiar pace of Nairobi, with its matatus, crowded streets and lively conversations. He said his time in China heightened his attentiveness and curiosity, allowing him to observe more closely and question assumptions. The fellowship, he added, was less about mastering China than about learning to engage with difference and complexity.