Kenyan universities forge student exchange program with U.S. institutions

President William Ruto at the Centre for Disease Control headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. [PCS]

Five Kenyan Universities are expected to sign a student exchange program with their American counterparts, President William Ruto said on Monday.

Ruto made the remarks while visiting the Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta on his first day of the State visit to the United States.

"We will expand this historic collaboration, with five Kenyan Universities signing a student exchange program with their American counterparts to celebrate our shared progress and broaden the knowledge horizon and experience of both Kenyan and American students," said Ruto.

President Ruto also praised the electoral processes in Kenya as transparent, saying this was steadily building voter confidence.

"Transparent electoral processes, including the use of electronic systems for voter registration, election validation, and results transmission, ensure the integrity of our elections making every vote count and every voice to be heard," he said. 

The president has also highlighted Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) as a positive impact of effective partnership between Kenya and US organisations.

Additionally, the president hailed the partnership between CDC, the National Institute of Health, and KEMRI as one initiave that had led to significant scientific discoveries, notably the malaria vaccine.

"Increasing grants to KEMRI will help establish strong intellectualproperty and scientific entrepreneurship frameworks. This willsupport Kenya's focus on product development, a key component of our pharmaceutical and biomedical manufacturing sector, aligned with BETA priorities," he noted. 

The president has since invited investors from the United States and manufacturers to explore opportunities in Kenya.