Office of Public Communications - Office of Government Spokesperson

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called on the Northern Consortium Universities in the United Kingdom (NCUK) to consider establishing campuses in Kenya.

Mr. Musyoka said by establishing campuses in the country the group will be able to impart the quality of education offered at their home campuses and also enable more Kenyans to access their programmes without incurring accommodation and travel costs.

"The Ministry of Education as well as the Commission for Higher Education will give you the necessary support to achieve this", Mr. Musyoka said.

He said the Grand Coalition Government's objective is to turn Kenya and Nairobi in particular into a major education hub in the region.

The Vice President made the remarks during the presentation of the President's UK Scholarship Award at Brookhouse International School in Nairobi.

Mr. Musyoka presented the second annual full tuition and living costs undergraduate scholarship to Mr. Jimmy Okoth Alele, this year's recipient, who has just completed a one year foundation at Brookhouse with outstanding results of two grade A and two grade A+.

Mr. Musyoka said the scholarships were worth in excess of Ksh 7million each to enable the recipients to not only undertake a Foundation Year Programme at Brookhouse Schoo, but also to continue studies at one of the Northern Consortium Universities in the United Kingdom.

He said over the next few years, the scholarship scheme will provide Ksh. 100 million worth of scholarships to Kenyan students to proceed to the U.K for degree courses.

The British Airways has offered to fly the award recipients to the UK and back to Kenya.

Mr. Musyoka commended the Northern Consortium comprising of universities of Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and eight other leading U.K institutes for coming up with the scheme which he said had assisted many Kenyans in the academic field.

The Brookhouse Director, Mr. John O'Connor said the school was committed to partnering with the government and other organizations in empowering young Kenyans get good education.

VPPS