Chinese govt's scholarship helps Kenyans and deepens ties

Financed and constructed by a Chinese company, the SGR project has created 46,000 local jobs, cut the transportation cost between Kenya's capital and its largest port city by 40 percent and increased the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 1.5 percent, said Ms. Suda.

She thanked China for helping Kenya promote industrialization by technology transfer and human resources development. In vocational education, China provides funding, equipment, teachers and cooperates with 134 institutes to train nearly 30,000 mechanical engineers, electricians and automation professionals each year.

In the area of higher education training, the Chinese government has been offering scholarships to Kenya annually since the early of 1980s.

"The scholarships go a long way in deepening the strong bonds of friendship and long-standing trade ties. More education and training opportunities are also being provided by various ministries in China.

Chinese firms are also transferring valuable skills to Kenyans. For example, seven young Kenyan women are drivers of the SGR trains after completing a railway course in China sponsored by a Chinese company", said Suda.

As one of the former beneficiaries, Henry Kibet Rotich, who is now the director of Metrology and Testing of the Kenya Bureau of Standards, shared his study experience in China about 20 years ago and encouraged the young students to learn not only professional skills but also Chinese language and culture.