The Embassy of Ukraine in Kenya has facilitated the signing on MoU between one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe – The National University of Ostroh Academy (Ukraine) and the Kenyatta University (Nairobi) – one of the top Universities in East Africa.

Both Universities plan to start implementing a project, focusing on deep cultural exchange between Ukraine and the Republic of Kenya. Ostroh Academy is now working on establishing a course of Kiswahili language for Ukrainian students and Kenyatta University will consider establishing a course of Ukrainian language.

For the first time in Ukrainian history, future graduates would become experts in Kiswahili.

With more than 200 million speakers, Kiswahili, originated in East Africa, is one of the world's 10 most widely spoken language and an official language of the African Union.

Kiswahili and its dialects stretch from parts of Somalia to Mozambique. It is an official language of Kenya and Tanzania, also being widely spoken in Uganda and western parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We are happy to introduce the wide range of opportunities of bilateral cooperation of Ukraine and Kenya regarding education. Although now, due to Russian unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, the project may primarily focus on the online format of tutoring, this cooperation could bring a long-lasting and fruitful exchange in the years to come” – said H.E. Andrii Pravednyk, Ambassador of Ukraine in Kenya.

During the visit to Kenyatta University the Ukrainian delegation donated a collection of Ukrainian books, as a first step in establishing the Ukrainian bookshelf in the Kenyatta University’s library.  

The "Ukrainian Bookshelf" project under Olena Zelenska’s patronage has already been implemented in 54 countries and at UNESCO headquarters. In total, more then 230 bookshelves were opened, featuring 55,000 books.

The Kenyatta University library is the largest in East Africa. Library has a rich collection of information resources in both print and electronic formats. These include over 300,000 volumes of books and periodicals.