Hungary has doubled scholarship offers to Kenyan undergraduate and post-graduate students from 100 to 200.
Hungarian ambassador to Kenya Zsolt Meszaros on Wednesday said the scholarship programme will absorb more students in due course in order to achieve its vision.
"We are among the largest education partners with Kenya. We will now have a total of more than 200 beneficiaries who have fully paid tuition, accommodation and allowances," he said.
Meszaros made the remarks when he paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula.
He noted that the scholarship programme has been running for the fifth year for undergraduate and post graduate students taking various disciplines.
He further said that the Hungary government is putting up a cancer hospital in Nyeri county to address tumour related ailments in the region.
“We would like your office to support the two initiatives by ensuring that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and his Health counterpart liaise with us to send medics on the scholarship programme who will operate this cancer centre once it’s fully operational,” he said.
On his part, Wetang’ula commended Hungary for its commitment in the programme and the various projects initiatives across the country.
“We believe in the near future we shall have many skilled people who have trained in Hungary and working in Kenya,” he said.
He said Kenya is eager to acquire various technologies from Hungary needed to transform the economy.
“We also believe that the students we send to study in your country will also build a strong alumni that can help enhance strong bilateral and diplomatic engagements,” he said.
Meszaros further noted that Hungary has set up a rice irrigation project in Ahero in Kisumu county aimed at helping rice farmers produce more.
Hungary has also partnered with residents in Bungoma to come up with a disabled children’s centre that strives to help the challenged children who have been marginalised and neglected in the community.
The Speaker committed to facilitate the establishment of the Kenya Hungary Parliamentary friendship group in order to foster good bilateral relationships between the two countries.