Kenyan students relish journey to China to pursue dreams

Officials from Embassy of Kenya in China meet the Kenyan students with a Chinese scholarship. [Photo/CRI]

Kenyan youth who benefitted from the 2015 Chinese government funded scholarships were excited about the prospects of visiting the country to explore its magical charm alongside economic and technological progress.

Juliet Wanza, a 19-year-old economics student, said the news about her winning a scholarship to study computer science and technology at Jiangsu University sounded like a dream.

"My father urged me to apply for a scholarship to study in China but I did not give it much thought. Later I applied and when the Chinese Embassy officials informed me that I had won the scholarship, the excitement was too profound,"Wanza told Xinhua.

She plans to pursue a post graduate degree in computer engineering and later start her own company to provide employment to young Kenyans.

Kenyan students from across the ethnic, geographical, gender and socio-economic divide benefitted from this year's Chinese government funded scholarships.

Nelius Maingi, a 29-year-old beneficiary who won a scholarship to pursue a three year master's degree in environmental sciences at Tianjing Polytechnic University, noted that gender balance was considered during the award of scholarships.

"We thank the Chinese government for opening new opportunities for young female scholars in Kenya," Maingi said.

The Chinese government has for decades sponsored Kenyan students to pursue cream course in the country's prestigious universities. Currently, there are over 200 Kenyan students pursuing coveted disciplines like engineering, medicine and aerospace in Chinese Universities.

Kenya's Principal Secretary for Education, Belio Kipsang, noted that Sino-Kenya cooperation in education has improved tremendously in the last decade.

"The number of scholarships awarded by the Chinese government has increased and this a confirmation that our cooperation in the field of education and technology transfer is blossoming," Kipsang said, adding that Kenya will leverage on skills acquired from China by its youth to promote industrial development.