Kenya has officially flagged off its first batch of Chinese language teachers under a pioneering scholarship program aimed at strengthening educational and cultural ties with China. A total of 48 students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi (UoN) departed for China this Friday, with 20 of them set to return as the country’s first registered Chinese language teachers.
This latest group follows another 52 scholars sent last week by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, marking a significant milestone in Kenya-China educational exchanges. The event, held at UoN’s Nairobi Arboretum, celebrated the largest single cohort of scholars and the launch of the 2+2 Joint Program for International Chinese Language Education.
For the departing students, the journey is more than a scholarship it is a transformative experience to become educators and cultural ambassadors. “What began with curiosity has now become a defining part of my journey. Today, we can hold a simple conversation with a Chinese person, proving that language truly bridges people together,” said Leah Muthoni, one of the students traveling to China.
The program addresses a critical gap in Kenya’s national curriculum, as currently, no Chinese language teachers are registered on the Teachers Service Commission payroll. Lilian Mwangi of TSC highlighted the immense professional opportunities awaiting the returning graduates.
The scholarship program has seen rapid growth, with Confucius Institute participants increasing from 86 in 2023 to a projected 245 by the end of 2025. More than 2,000 Kenyans have benefited from Chinese scholarships since diplomatic ties were established. This rise is further boosted by a collaboration agreement between UoN and China’s Tianjin Normal University, which has already seen over 400 UoN students study in Tianjin.
Education leaders at the ceremony, including Carol Hunja of the State Department for Higher Education and Martin Kosgey of KNQA, emphasized the program’s national significance, framing the scholars’ departure as a “collective triumph” for Kenya’s institutions.
China’s Chargé d’Affaires in Nairobi, Zhang Zhizhong, reminded the students that their role extends beyond academics: they are to build dreams and inspire a new generation of Kenyan learners. In two years, these students will return, ready to teach, mentor, and strengthen the growing bridge between Kenya and China.
