- The Kennedy-Mboya partnership was initiated by former US president John F Kennedy and Kenyan minister Tom Mboya.
- The two are said to have met in the US in 1959 at a conference on international affairs.
At least 60 Kenyan students are set to benefit under a new $3.3 million (Sh430 million) Kennedy-Mboya education airlift program between the US and Kenya. Subscribe for more videos: https://bit.ly/2mPyDy3
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At least 60 Kenyan students are set to benefit under a new $3.3 million (Sh430 million) Kennedy-Mboya education airlift program between the US and Kenya.
The partnership signed in the US during the ongoing visit by president William Ruto will see the selected students study at top universities in the US for one semester.
Making the announcement, Clinton White, Counselor for USAID noted that this is part of the commemoration of 60 years of partnership between the two nations.
The program, White noted, is aimed at supporting the development and success of the next generation of Kenyan scientists, researchers, and engineers.
“The Kennedy and Mboya partnership will also strengthen the connection between American and Kenyan universities and include two-way exchanges of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs,” he said.
The US has a longstanding partnership with Kenya, actively supporting the country as a pioneering force and regional engine for innovation.
“This new partnership in the area of STEM education will prepare a generation of innovative Kenyan leaders to meet evolving market demands and advance the nation’s economic development,” he added.
USAID expects the signed Framework for Cooperation to establish linkages, partnerships, exchange programs, and other relationships for sharing and developing the STEM, advanced manufacturing, and ICT capacities of Kenyan higher education institutions.
It includes a commitment from Microsoft and the Mastercard Foundation to support STEM education through higher education partnerships, and a commitment from US varsities to partner with Kenyan institutions to build mutual capacity in STEM-related courses of study.
The Kennedy-Mboya partnership was initiated by former US president John F Kennedy and former Kenyan minister Tom Mboya.
The two are said to have met in the US in 1959 at a conference on international affairs.
At just 28 years old, Mboya was a labour leader and rising political star in Kenya's liberation movement.
At the time, he was on a speaking tour of North America seeking scholarships for Kenyan and other East African students whose opportunities for higher education under colonial rule were severely limited.
Kennedy expressed interest in Mboya's initiative.