Feature: Kenyan student sees bright future in learning Chinese language

Kenya's Njeri Mwangi looks forward to working in a Chinese-owned company either in Kenya or China, an interest built out of her interaction with the country's citizens and their culture.

She is among the 15 students currently undertaking a certificate of Chinese language at Egerton University's Confucius Institute in Nakuru County, Kenya's Rift Valley region.

"I love Chinese language. It is a very interesting language that I would encourage everyone to learn," Mwangi told Xinhua in an interview with her at the university.

Mwangi, presently at Level IV, said she has learnt a lot about the Chinese language, tradition, culture and history.

Combined with the knowledge she has gained from her degree in Economics and Sociology, Mwangi said she is confident of securing employment in a company managed by the Chinese.

"I am currently in my fourth year and soon as I graduate, my focus will be looking for a job at a Chinese company," she said.

And getting a job as an accountant could be to her greatest satisfaction as she said.

Remarkably, her visit to China early this year further fueled her interest of wishing to work with the China nationals.

The full sponsored tour that lasted for two weeks exposed her to the high technological developments advanced in the country. The people were equally warm, friendly, cordial and jovial as she observed.

During the January trip, they visited Shanghai and Suzhou, some of the most developed and prosperous cities of China as well as the Nanjing Agricultural University.

The rubbish free streets, well carpeted roads and complex architectural designs of the buildings amazed her.

"It is just stunning to have a feeling of the cities. They are so clean and the roads are very well developed. It is a learning lesson all together," noted Mwangi.

Though she expected to be served with spoons, forks and knives, Mwangi had to learn a new way of eating using the chopsticks.

"There are no spoons or knives we are used to in Kenya. You use chopsticks which I found to be interesting to me," said Mwangi as she laughs away the excitement of learning the new eating style.

Mwangi said learning the Chinese language supplements her academic qualifications. With the understanding of the language, she says she could comfortably serve as a teacher and translator.

She believes that with the growing industrialization in Kenya and Chinese companies setting ground in the country, graduates with a Chinese accreditation would never lack jobs.

"The Chinese are very nice people and it is my desire that one day I work with them. I would love to be working in an environment with high developments and technological growth," asserted Mwangi, adding that she is encouraging her friends to learn the language.

During Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa's visit to the university on September 15, he encouraged them to learn more about the language. He also promised to support them in all endeavours.

Liu said an increasing number of Chinese companies were expanding into Kenya and could offer them employment opportunities.

"There are more employment opportunities for you as more Chinese companies are coming up in Kenya," he told the students who had converged to receive him.

Latest data on the arrival of the Chinese entrepreneurs in Kenya indicate a 93 percent increase between 2009 and 2013.

A total of 386 firms run by the Chinese had equally been registered in Kenya by the closure of 2014. Endit