Hungary tops the 13 countries that have offered scholarships to Kenyans, a document tabled in Parliament shows.
The Central European country has given 880 scholarships, mainly through the Stipendium Hungaricum programme. This year, there were 200 beneficiaries.
“A total of 13 countries have offered Kenya Citizens with Scholarships. Globally, the Hungarian Government has issued 800(61.4%) scholarships to Kenya citizens, followed by the Commonwealth with 166 (12.7%) and China 139(10.7%). Cumulatively, they have contributed 1106(84.9%) of foreign scholarship opportunities,” the sessional paper on the revised Kenya Foreign Policy states.
Within Africa, Mauritius-Africa Scholarship scheme has issued 47(3.65%) scholarships to Kenya citizens, followed by Egypt Government Scholarships at 19(1.5%).
Hungary consistently offered 200 scholarships since 2020, save for 2021 when it handed 80 slots.
During an official visit to Budapest in March, PCS Musalia Mudavadi signed an MoU on education and thanked Hungary for the opportunity.
“I expressed gratitude for Hungary’s continued support, particularly in education through 200 annual scholarships, as well as investments in agriculture and health,” Mudavadi, who is also in-charge of Foreign Affairs said.
He added that Hungary was a close partner in the education sector.
Some 521 Kenyans students are studying in Hungary and 200 more will join through the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, according to Minister Szijjártó. Some 4,300 students applied for the scholarship.
“I appreciate the government of Hungary for the 200 scholarships offered to Kenyan students annually the through the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme,” Mudavadi said.
He noted that the scholarships had enhanced people-to-people cooperation, and revitalized substantial positive transformations across multiple sectors of the two economies.
