The lion dance was one of the highlights of the three-day Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festival, which was opened by Kenyan President William Ruto in Lodwar town on Thursday.

International and local visitors gathered at the Ekalees Cultural Center to celebrate Turkana culture and heritage. Apart from Turkana culture, a pavilion featuring Chinese culture attracted several visitors. When Ruto made a stop at the Chinese pavilion, students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi performed the lion dance.

For students from Turkana University College, a Wednesday cultural event was the first time that many of them watched Chinese cultural performances. They watched as the Confucius Institute students performed the lion dance and sang Chinese songs. They were also treated to a screening of a Chinese movie, which led many of them to express their desire to learn the Chinese language and culture.

Turkana college students experienced Chinese cultural activities such as paper-cutting, painting opera masks, and trying on traditional Chinese costumes.

"This is the first time that I'm interacting with the Chinese culture and I'm interested in further learning the culture and language," Ruth Wambui, a first-year university student, said.

She hopes that a Confucius Institute will be opened at Turkana University College in the near future to allow students to learn the Chinese culture and language, which can then give them an advantage in securing jobs at Chinese companies in Kenya.

Wambui, who is pursuing her bachelor's degree in renewable energy, said the deepening relationship between China and Kenya, specifically on renewable energy investments, gives students like her hope in securing jobs after graduation.

Graig Onunga, a second-year student pursuing a bachelor's degree in English literature, shared similar sentiments.

He said the Chinese culture is rich and interesting, and opening a Confucius Institute in the university would strengthen the bond between China and Kenya, especially in remote areas like Turkana where people know very little about the Asian country.

George Muthaa, deputy principal in charge of administration, finance and planning at the university, expressed his gratitude to Chinese embassy staff members and the Confucius Institute. "Turkana is known as the cradle of humankind, so they have come back to the source. We also appreciate the diversity and sharing of culture," he said.

Muthaa said even though the institution does not currently have Chinese programs, the visit by the Chinese ambassador to Kenya in the university last month and Wednesday's visit by the deputy ambassador marked the beginning of the university realizing its dream of opening a Confucius Institute.

'Shaping institution'

"This will enrich our offerings as a university and probably the culture that we want to embrace and shape as an institution of higher learning," he said.

Turkana University College is located along the Lodwar-Kitale road, which was constructed by a Chinese company. Muthaa said the institution has benefited from the road construction and the additional construction of a borehole by the company.

Muthaa foresees that further collaboration with the Chinese embassy in Kenya will further expose the university both on the local and international stage.

Zhang Zhizhong, deputy Chinese ambassador to Kenya, said the embassy is committed to maintaining regular contact with the university as well as collaborating on cultural exchanges.

He said the embassy will keep holding cultural events with other universities across Kenya to allow students to learn more about Chinese culture.

Zhang said China and Kenya have a good relationship on education, noting that the Chinese government has been offering scholarships to Kenyan students every year to enable them to pursue their education in China.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn