NAIROBI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and Germany resolved on Monday to partner in the transfer of technical skills and education focusing on applied sciences.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his visiting German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier who held a bilateral meeting in Nairobi also agreed to set up an applied sciences university and the European nation's commitment to continue supporting technical and vocational training in the country.
"We will work together in applied sciences. There is still a gap for those who want to go further and become our future innovators. The applied sciences university will not just be for Kenya but for the entire region," Kenyatta said in a statement issued after the meeting.
Kenyatta said Kenya is developing an elaborate system of technical and vocational educational training (TVET) to bridge an identified skills gap saying a sciences university would help empower Kenyan innovators.
He noted that three centers of excellence have been established under the Kenya-German TVET Initiative.
"The program is in two phases and is co-financed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the Kenya. Phase one will be co-financed at a total cost of Euro 26.43 million while phase two will be co-financed to establish 4 other TVET centers, at a total of Euro 13 million," Kenyatta said.
Steinmeier said his country was keen on partnering with Kenya's vibrant technological startups saying the country had distinguished itself as Africa's Silicon Valley through its globally celebrated innovations.
"German universities can help Kenya set up an applied sciences university," the German president said.
The German leader who is in the country for a three-day state visit is accompanied by representatives of the German business, education and sports sectors.
Over the years, more than 100 German companies have set up operations in Kenya with a portfolio of over 500 million euros, according to government statistics.
