Education sector gets Sh4 billion boost from USA

The United States has pledged to invest Sh4.224 billion in the Kenyan education sector as part of the longstanding partnership between the two countries.

This is aimed at equipping learners with innovative skills to meet the evolving demands of the market and drive Kenya's economic development forward under 'Investing in a Shared Future through Higher Education Initiative.' 

Some Sh3.234 billion will be allocated to a program focusing on early-grade literacy, ensuring that more Kenyans possess foundational skills necessary for higher education success. 

Additionally, Sh858 million will support a new project connecting Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), graduates with employment opportunities in rapidly growing sectors like ICT, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.

Furthermore, Sh112.2 million will be directed towards the Edtech Africa initiative, a public-private partnership program aimed at promoting STEM collaborations between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the Open University of Kenya, MasterCard, and Microsoft.

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This announcement was made during President William Ruto's State Visit to the United States, marking a new chapter in collaboration between the two nations. 

The deal was formalized through a historic Framework for Cooperation signed by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Counselor Clinton White and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on behalf of their respective countries. 

This framework is expected to foster linkages, partnerships, exchange programs, and other relationships aimed at developing the STEM capacities of Kenyan higher education institutions, as well as advancing advanced manufacturing and ICT sectors.

The signing ceremony took place at Spelman College in Atlanta, symbolizing the commitment of both nations to invest in higher education.

Mudavadi said the partnership would significantly enhance STEM education, contributing to the country's economic growth by fostering innovation, research, and job creation.

“We have strengthened our enduring relationship with the US through the establishment of an education agreement signed today (Tuesday) to improve the exchange of students and faculty and facilitate collaborative research and innovation,” said Mudavadi.

In line with this legacy, the U.S. Department of State announced the Kennedy-Mboya Partnerships, a modern scholarship initiative focused on STEM education to support the next generation of Kenyan scientists, researchers, and engineers.