Chinese government on Tuesday awarded scholarships to 20 students who are pursuing studies at the University of Nairobi.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa told a media briefing in Nairobi that the scholarships are part of the growing bilateral cooperation between China and Kenya in the educational sector.
"China is committed to ensure that Kenya achieves its national development goals," Liu said during the second Award Ceremony of the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship.
A total of 22,000 U.S. dollars was awarded this year to 20 students in the University of Nairobi, while 18 students benefited from the scholarship in 2013.
Liu said that the recipients of the scholarships are the hope and future of Kenya. He urged the students to keep working hard to become one of the elites who will promote and lead the advancement of society.
"The exchanges and cooperation in education between the two countries has brought new hope for the future of the two countries, " he said, adding the Chinese government provides over 500 government scholarships to Kenya every year.
University of Nairobi Deputy Vice-Chancellor Henry Mutoro said the scholarships will help to improve Kenya's human capital.
"It is a good gesture for China to recognize underprivileged students in Kenya," said Godfrey Muriuki, University of Nairobi Special Student Advisor.
One of the beneficiaries of the scholarships is Abdulkadir Abubakar, who is pursuing an engineering degree.
"My father died in 2008 and so my mother has struggled to raise school fees since then," Abubakar said. "The scholarship will assist me to complete my studies," he said.
"China is a true friend of Kenya as it hopes to empower Kenya through education," said Charles Ndirangu, another recipient.