Kenya on Tuesday, May 21 signed a partnership deal in education with the United States.

The deal, signed on President William Ruto’s second day of the U.S trip, will see enhanced student and faculty exchange, as well as joint research and innovation.

Speaking after the signing of the pact between the two countries, President Ruto said the partnership will accelerate Kenya’s Silicon Savannah ambition.

“We will keep working together with America’s higher education to develop programmes aligned with industry requirements to equip our youth with skills to thrive in a sustainable way,” Ruto said during a lecture at the Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, on Investing in a Shared Future Through Higher Education.

Kenya-U.S deal

Experts have touted the proposed collaboration framework to foster partnerships between American experts, universities and colleges, and Kenyan technical and vocational education and training institutions.

According to President Ruto, the partnership will also help in developing industry-driven curricula that will also equip young people with essential skills in ICT.

During his lecture, President Ruto expressed concerns over the underrepresentation of women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“Despite evident progress, Kenya faces a significant gender gap in STEM at all levels, from education to the workforce. Our partnership must, therefore, be intentional about promoting women’s participation in STEM,” he said.