Kenyan scholarship students all set for China

Sixty-seven Kenyan students with full scholarships from the Chinese government were leaving for China with expectations of being ambassadors that will help facilitate communication between the two countries.

The Chinese government has been offering scholarships to Kenya annually since 1982. There are more than 200 Kenyan students studying in Chinese universities under various categories of Chinese government scholarships, covering almost all majors at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.

"Education has always been a key area for our sound cooperation," Chinese Ambassador Liu Xianfa to Kenya told the students during a predeparture gathering on Aug 25.

"It is my sincere hope that you learn the Chinese language and culture, make Chinese friends, and of course at the same time be messengers and ambassadors of your country to introduce Kenya to more Chinese people, and devote yourself to facilitating the exchanges and cooperation and promotion of friendship between our two countries," Liu said.

Belio Kipsang, principal secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Education, says he hopes the students, while serving as ambassadors, also would bring knowledge and resources back to Kenya.

"I sincerely thank the Chinese ambassador and Chinese people for the opportunities they offer to our people to study in their country," Kipsang said during the ceremony.

"The best investment in your people and your children is the investment in knowledge," which Kipsang says will bring great returns.

One of the scholarship awardees is Alinur Abdi, who is to study medicine at Peking University. The 20-year-old son of farmers has eight siblings, who have been difficult for his parents to support.

Abdi said he has been dreaming of studying in China since 2011, when he started high school. "China is a global power. It will give me the opportunity to meet people at a global level and international level.

"Without that scholarship, I don't think it's possible to study in China," he says, noting that his parents have a hard time taking care of his siblings, all of whom are in school.

"In terms of finances, they are a bit poor. It's my pleasure to thank the Chinese government for offering me this opportunity to study in China."

Juliet Wanza Ndavi from Likipia University says she is the only one from her university lucky enough to get the scholarship. The 19-year-old will study computer science at Jiangsu University.

Ndavi's father is a police officer and her mother is a housewife. She says she couldn't study in China without the scholarship. "Being given a scholarship, I am very happy and grateful," she says.

houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn