President Uhuru Kenyatta has said that Kenyans studying in universities outside Kenya should benefit from the Higher Education Loans Board funds.
The President said the policy of the Government is that every Kenyan student in an accredited university qualifies for HELB loans and that is why even those in private universities are offered loans.
He said this when he met more than 500 Kenyan students in Khartoum, who were among at least 800 Kenyans whom he addressed on the second day of his official visit to the Sudan.
“We have a clear policy that all Kenyan students whether at home or abroad who are in accredited universities qualify for HELB loans,” said the President when he addressed the Kenyan diaspora in Sudan at the Corinthia Hotel in Khartoum.
The Kenyans also included expatriates including teachers who teach in prestigious schools in Sudan.
President Kenyatta encouraged the Kenyan students to enroll more for courses in the oil and mining sector in which Sudan has an edge.
The President told the students that he has requested the Sudanese Government to offer internships in the petroleum and oil industry to Kenyan students learning technical courses.
“There is a lot we can learn from Sudan especially in oil and gas and mining,” said President Kenyatta.
He said Sudan has made a lot of progress in petroleum and gas industry and mineral extraction despite the fact that it had been oppressed by sanctions for many years.
The President asked the students to maintain their distinction as well behaved Kenyans.
“You are here as our Ambassadors. Continue promoting our good name,” said the President.
The President was responding to requests from the students for Government support.
He said the Government will dispatch officials from the ministry of education and HELB to take records of the many Kenyan students studying in Sudan who may need help.
President Kenyatta also called on Kenyan students in foreign universities to take advantage of the policy that allows them to transfer their credits to Kenyan universities during their final year of studies.
He said the policy allows all students in accredited universities to transfer their credits to a Kenyan university where they can finish their studies if they so wish.
The meeting was addressed by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and Kenyan Ambassador in Sudan, Mr Arown Suge.
The Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale and Mining Cabinet Secretary Dan Kazungu also addressed the meeting.
By PSCU.