Wednesday, June 10, 2026(NAIROBI)__Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary, Ms. Roseline K. Njogu, represented by Ambassador Isaiya Kabira, Secretary for Diaspora Investments, Skills and Entrepreneurship and Acting CEO of the Diaspora Placement Agency (DPA), today hosted the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Cooperation bringing together Japan’s Shimizu Corporation, the University of Nairobi (UoN), and the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) in a strategic partnership aimed at advancing skills, innovation, and global collaboration.
The event highlights the State Department’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships to expand opportunities for Kenyan talent and strengthen institutional capacity.
The signing ceremony was graced by Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, who highlighted the government’s focus on aligning higher education with industry needs and global standards. She noted that the collaboration represents a forward-looking approach to equipping Kenyan graduates with practical competencies and international exposure.
Shimizu Corporation was represented by Mr. Hiroshi Fujita, Global Business Director, signaling the company’s commitment to investing in human capital development and knowledge exchange in Kenya. The University of Nairobi delegation was led by Vice-Chancellor, Eng. Prof. Ayub N. Gitau, PhD, while the Technical University of Kenya was represented by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr.-Ing. Benedict M. Mutua, PhD, Rer. Nat.
The Memorandum of Cooperation is expected to significantly strengthen collaboration between academia and industry by facilitating joint research, curriculum development, and hands-on training opportunities. Through this partnership, Kenyan universities stand to benefit from Shimizu’s global expertise, particularly in engineering, construction technologies, and sustainable infrastructure.
Beyond institutional strengthening, the initiative is poised to enrich Kenya’s education sector by embedding practical skills development into academic programs, ensuring graduates are better prepared for the demands of a rapidly evolving diaspora workforce.
The agreement also marks a deepening of Kenya-Japan relations, anchored in shared priorities of innovation, investment, and talent development.
A key highlight of the initiative is its focus on expanding opportunities for Kenyan youth. The collaboration is expected to create pathways for labour mobility, facilitate skills exchange programs, and promote access to cutting-edge technologies, positioning young professionals to compete effectively in the global economy.
Also in attendance were Ambassador Moi Lemoshira, Kenya’s envoy to Japan, and Mr. Hori Tomonobu, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Kenya, alongside senior officials from Shimizu Corporation, representatives from the participating universities, and officials from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.