NAIROBI - China is likely to become the principal donor to Africa partly because the Chinese have gone further in ensuring that aid projects benefit the masses, a Kenyan development analyst said.

Chris Abong'o, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi and a rural development consultant, said that China is ensuring that its aid and loan programs to Africa go more directly to people at the grassroots level and are on a larger scale.

"For example in Kenya, we have seen the benefit of road infrastructure being supported by the Chinese aid or being constructed by their companies," he said.

China is building a hospital, among other projects in the east-central African country, in the low income area of Kayole Estate, which will offer local people access to health care.

"I think more Chinese aid should be directed towards construction of infrastructure because with good infrastructure, one is able to win the hearts of the people and helps accelerate social and economic development of a nation," said the analyst.

"Essentially, Chinese assistance to Africa should be directed to projects that directly help in poverty eradication," he said.