News & Events
Nice to meet you! Chinese volunteers,Li Zhenyong(2L) and Ms. Baihe(4L) pose for a picture with Maasai men during the visit to the Maasai village on their excursion to Maasai Mara – November, 2018.%20and%20Ms.%20Baihe(4L).JPG)
The Confucius Institute Chinese volunteers and lecturers as well as the new Chinese Director accompanied by some local staff visited the Maasai Mara game reserve in November, 2018. This excursion is designed to introduce the Chinese, particularly new volunteers, to the Kenyan countryside and to experience the rich wildlife heritage that is unique to this Country as well as sample other aspects of the local culture, including the local cuisine. The development of language is intertwined with the understanding of culture and must essentially be seen as mutual and hence the need for an integrated approach to this kind of exposure and learning in order to promote greater understanding between the Chinese and African peoples. The group was able to observe various animals including all the big five as well as a variety of other wildlife species, including birds. The group also visited a Maasai village where they were treated to Maasai song and dance and an oral presentation of their very rich culture.
Earlier in the year, the Confucius Institute also arranged a one day excursion to Nakuru. The one day excursions serve to forge a good working relationship between Chinese volunteer staff and the local staff and also provide a much needed break from the rigorous CI activities and teaching responsibilities. The group visited Lake Nakuru National Park. Both excursions were sponsored by the Confucius Institute headquarters, Hanban.
The CI Chinese and local staff pose for a photo at the lion hill camp in Nakuru，June2018.
Chinese volunteers Ding Wanru and Liu Ting pay attention to Maasai children during the visit to the Maasai village on their excursion to Maasai Mara – November, 2018
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On the 10th of July, Parents and guardians of CI students attended a Parent’s summer Camp Briefing organized by the CI. The meeting was aimed at informing parents of successful Summer Camp students what the trip their children were to take for 2 weeks in China would entail. The meeting was hosted by CI Director Dr. Wango who first of all congratulated all qualified students and reiterated on the place of foreign languages and especially Chinese in the current world. He stated that having a foreign language apart from a basic degree guaranteed success in the future of the students. The Parents were treated to 5 beautiful presentations of Chinese traditional dances, Martial Arts performance and a song by both students and Teachers of CI. The Chinese Director Ms. Li then went on to give an in-depth introduction of CI and Shandong Normal University. She elaborated on the different partnerships the two universities work on, stating that KU is the second CI SDNU opened globally. She pointed out the inclusion of the Basketball team into the Summer Camp for the first time. The basketball team will accompany CI Summer Camp Students to China. She mentioned 4 martial arts students that were also part of the team that would go to China and encouraged the students to take advantage of the different opportunities available to them to go to China and further their knowledge of the language. Rachael, one of the Chinese lecturers at the institute who would be leading and taking care of the students during the Summer Camp gave her speech as well affirming the parents that for those 2 weeks their children would be her own children. Rachael reminded the students of the importance of being disciplined while in China.
Parents were then taken through the rules, regulations and requirements expected of their children during the trip. Parents were also given an opportunity to ask questions which were answered. Some of the parents encouraged fellow parents to pray for their children while they are away and assured the CI that their children were well mannered. CI Director Dr. Wango gave the closing remarks reiterating on the difference in China’s culture and Kenyan culture and reminded students to be careful to keep time while on their trip to China. Also in attendance were CI members of staff and Chinese volunteer Teachers and Lecturers.
Report by
Ruth Sarah Achieng’
Administrator KU CI
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Confucius Institute Kenyatta University on 10th September 2019, received a new Director Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai. Dr. Guantai takes over from Dr. Kamau Wango to head the institute as the Local Director Confucius Institute Kenyatta University. Dr. Guantai hails from the School of Education and is keen on marketing the Chinese Language Course to potential students. She has a passion for Marketing and is an excellent administrator seen from her experience in managing office of Examination Coordinator in the School of Education. In her key note address to members of staff, Dr. Guantai said she was ready to serve and thanked the Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul K. Wainaina for the opportunity. She said she would create her own shoes and fit them, acknowledging the tremendous work done by former Director Dr. Kamau Wango. Members of staff at Confucius Institute led by Prof. Li Jing welcomed Dr. Guantai and promised her full support in her new role.
Staff Members at Kenyatta University Confucius Institute welcome the new Director, Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai
Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai shakes hands with former Confucius Institute Director Dr. Kamau Wango as she takes over office.
Confucius Institute new Director Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai (left) Dr. Kamau Wango (middle) and Chinese Director Prof. Li Jing (right)
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The Confucius Institute was invited to participate in the 55th anniversary celebration of the China-Kenya diplomatic Relations at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nairobi on Friday, December 14, 2018. The colourful ceremony commemorated the establishment of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level between China and Kenya that were formalized through a China-Kenya joint communique published on December 14, 1963. This milestone was preceded by a visit to Kenya by a top-level Chinese delegation led by Marshal Chen Yi, Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister of the Peoples’ Republic of China. Their mission was to attend Kenya’s Independence celebrations on December 12, 1963 and the communique issued two days later made China the fourth Country to establish formal diplomatic relations with newly Independent Kenya.
The event was attended by many dignitaries, including foreign mission representatives in Kenya. The Chief Guest was Mr. Raphael Tuju, Cabinet secretary and Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party accompanied by Mr. Adan Duale, Majority leader of the National Assembly. Other guests included Mr. Shakeel Shabbir, Chairperson of the Kenya-China Friendship Group of the Parliament, Richard Tong'i, Vice-chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations of Parliament, and Ms Sarah Serem, Kenya’s Ambassador-designate to China.
The Chargé d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Li Xuhang lauded the long period of partnership between the two Countries that has brought with it political, economic and social transformation for both countries as well as forging close links. He noted that, "China-Kenya relations are at a new historical point, with unprecedented opportunities and broad prospects. Facing the future, we will continue to uphold the principles of strategic mutual trust, win-win cooperation with shared benefits, and push forward the better alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and Eight Major Action Plans of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit with Kenya's Big Four Agenda, to achieve faster and greater development of China-Kenya relations."
In his remarks, Mr. Tuju noted that China had contributed significantly to Africa's struggle for freedom against colonialism and that this cooperation has evolved over the years and is evident in transformative development projects, including infrastructure expansion, agriculture modernization, industrialization and skill transfer. To mark the event, four Kenyan public Universities, including Kenyatta University, received a combined scholarship award worth five-million Kenya shillings. Other Chinese government scholarships were awarded to outstanding students to study in Universities in China. Kenyatta University was represented by the CI Director, Dr. Kamau Wango.
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