This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Kenyan students in the U.K. are set to benefit from extended visas after completing their studies, thanks to a new initiative by the British government.
High Commissioner to Kenya Nic Hailey made the announcement during a meeting with Deputy President William Ruto at his Karen home in Nairobi.
Hailey explained that the new move will give students more time to gather industry experience, which is essential for their future careers.
"It is through attachments and internships that best practices and innovations are hatched. As such, the student visa extension would be an important consideration to fill into our new immigration laws," Hailey said.
Hailey also highlighted the significant growth in the relationship between Kenya and the U.K. over the past four years, particularly in investment and commerce.
"The past four years have seen many British companies expanding their presence in Kenya, generating thousands of jobs," he said.
He assured that more opportunities would be created through the renewed focus on Kenya's agriculture through innovations and value addition by British firms.
Deputy President William Ruto hailed the British envoy for his exemplary work, saying that the country will endeavour to sustain its engagement with the U.K.
"We will always be looking for opportunities to partner with the United Kingdom so as to better our development trajectory," Ruto said.
Hailey's commitment to making Eastern and the Horn of Africa secure was also appreciated by Ruto, who called for a more coordinated and ruthless approach to wipe out terrorism.
