- Kenyan MPs have urged U.S. congressional officials to ease student visa restrictions and expand scholarships during bilateral talks in Nairobi.
- Legislators argued that visa hurdles prevent many qualified Kenyan students from pursuing higher education in the U.S., calling for stronger academic exchange programmes.
- The appeal comes amid new U.S. visa rules limiting validity to four years, requiring extensions with stricter vetting, adding challenges for Kenyan students.
Members of Parliament (MPs) have urged officials from the United States Congress to help address challenges facing Kenyan students seeking higher education in the U.S., particularly difficulties in obtaining student visas.
The issue featured prominently during bilateral talks between a National Assembly delegation led by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe and senior U.S. congressional officials in Nairobi on Wednesday, July 29.
The legislators said visa restrictions continue to hinder many qualified Kenyan students from pursuing studies in the United States and called for measures to ease access to educational opportunities.
They also appealed to the U.S. government to increase scholarship opportunities and expand academic exchange programmes to deepen educational cooperation between the two countries.
The appeal comes amid recent changes to U.S. student visa regulations, which limit most international student visas to a maximum validity of four years, replacing the previous system under which visas generally remained valid for the duration of a student’s academic programme.
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Under the new rules, students who require additional time to complete their studies must apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for a visa extension, a process that includes additional vetting, such as biometric screening and background checks.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the changes are aimed at preventing misuse of the student visa programme by ensuring international students remain in the country only for the duration of their authorised studies.
However, the new requirements have added another obstacle for thousands of Kenyan students already studying in the United States, as well as those planning to pursue higher education there, amid the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies.
By Frank Mugwe
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