A vibrant flag-off ceremony marked a milestone in Kenya–China educational cooperation as students from the University of Nairobi’s Confucius Institute were sent off to China to pursue advanced Mandarin studies. Among them, Chinese language major Leah Muthoni Kimani, dressed in a crisp white tracksuit, made headlines with her flawless recitation of Chinese phrases, captivating attendees on her 20th birthday.
These 20 students are beneficiaries of the “2 + 2” Dual-Degree Scholarship Program, established under a tripartite agreement signed in December 2023 between the University of Nairobi, China’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation, and Tianjin Normal University. The program invites students who have completed two years of Mandarin study in Nairobi to continue their education in China for an additional two years.
Upon completion, graduates will qualify under Kenya’s Teachers Service Commission and are expected to be recruited as Mandarin teachers in secondary schools, strengthening the inclusion of Chinese language instruction within Kenya’s education system.
At the ceremony, Brain Kibet, a Chinese major and Kiswahili minor from Nandi County, shared his excitement about the transformative journey ahead. His father, Stanley Ng’etich, expressed pride in witnessing “a historic moment” and confidence that his son will return as a capable ambassador equipped to contribute to Kenya’s growth.
Carol Hunja, Secretary for Higher Education and Research in Kenya’s Ministry of Education, encouraged the cohort to immerse themselves deeply in China’s language, culture, and everyday life—emphasizing that such cultural exchanges form the backbone of meaningful academic experiences.
