The University of Nairobi, which hosts the first Confucius Institute in Africa, on Friday launched a Model Confucius Institute in a colorful ceremony that was attended by government officials, University administration, staff and students.

Jointly established by the Tianjin Normal University and the University of Nairobi in 2005, the Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi is hailed as a major milestone in the history of cultural exchanges between China and Kenya.

While addressing the launch via video link, George Magoha, Kenya's minister for education, said his relationship with the Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi goes back to his days as vice-chancellor at the institution. He added that some of the students who were sponsored to study in China during his tenure are now back and teaching at the Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi.

"During my tenure as vice-chancellor at the University of Nairobi, I represented the African continent at the Confucius Institute based at Beijing in China. During this period, the Confucius Institute of Nairobi won many accolades and many prizes," Magoha said.