Kenyatta University continues to assert its position as a global-facing institution committed to meaningful international partnerships, following a courtesy call by the Honorary Consul of Kenya in Greece, Ms. Nikolitsa (Vicky) Pantazopoulou, to the Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday, 4th February 2026.
The engagement, held at the Mandela A Boardroom, brought together senior University leadership and key stakeholders from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explore expanded cooperation in tourism, culture, sports, music, vocational training and international mobility, positioning the University as a strategic partner in advancing Kenya’s soft power abroad.
Ms. Pantazopoulou, a distinguished diplomat and business leader, has served as the Honorary Consul of Kenya to Greece since 2010. Her extensive background spans international relations, commerce, chamber leadership and social development. She is a co-founder of the Hellenic–African Chamber of Commerce and Development and the Kenyan–Greek Chamber of Industry, Commerce, Development, Tourism and Culture, and has held senior roles in multiple international cooperation platforms across Europe and the Mediterranean.
During the courtesy call, she underscored the need to reposition Kenya’s global narrative beyond traditional tourism imagery, calling for a more diversified portrayal that captures the country’s strengths in sports excellence, creative industries, agriculture, language, history and human capital.
“Kenya has far more to offer the world than what is often packaged,” she noted, pointing to opportunities for collaboration that elevate storytelling, cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy.
Discussions highlighted Kenyatta University’s leadership in tourism studies, hospitality, music and dance, with several speakers emphasising the institution’s capacity to influence how Kenya is experienced internationally.
The Chairperson of Hospitality and Tourism, Dr. Ndubi Edgar Otsembo Sande, underscored the importance of enriching tourist experiences through culinary heritage, immersive storytelling and cultural packaging, borrowing from global best practices while retaining Kenya’s authenticity. Kenyatta University, as one of the country’s leading institutions in tourism education, was identified as a key driver in shaping sustainable and diversified tourism narratives.
The Chairperson of the Department of Music and Dance, Dr. Elizabeth Andang’o, showcased its long-standing engagement in preserving and advancing cultural expression, noting Greece’s historical role as the foundation of European music and the potential for masterclasses, exchanges and joint programmes. Existing academic linkages, including collaborations with institutions in Cyprus, were cited as evidence of Kenyatta University’s comparative advantage in this space.
Further strengthening the cultural dimension, Dr. Duncan Wambugu, Department of Music and Dance, highlighted the University’s Annual Culture Week, now in its 32nd year, as a flagship platform for partnership, artistic exchange and international visibility.
Sports emerged as a central pillar of the proposed collaboration. Kenyatta University’s identity as a sports powerhouse was repeatedly affirmed, with emphasis on its role as host of the UNESCO Chair for Sports and its growing footprint in sports research, training and policy.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Outreach) reaffirmed that sports diplomacy presents a natural convergence point for Kenya and Greece, particularly given Kenya’s global reputation in athletics and endurance sports.
Complementing this, Dr. John Mugo Muhia, Director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), outlined the University’s plans to launch TVET programmes in sports and athletics, including lecturer retooling and over ten programmes in the pipeline. Research into the science behind Kenyan athletic excellence: nutrition, resilience and training culture, was identified as a promising area for joint inquiry.
Prof. Lucy Ogola, Director of the Centre for International Programmes and Collaborations (CIPC), emphasised that Greece remains a critical partner in Kenyatta University’s internationalisation agenda. The University currently holds Memoranda of Understanding with Greek institutions, Erasmus+ agreements, joint research initiatives, and active staff and student mobility programmes.
With over 1,000 international students from across the globe and platforms such as the Annual Intercultural Day, Kenyatta University continues to foster a vibrant global campus. Initiatives such as the University’s internal coffee house, promoting Kenyan coffee culture, were cited as examples of intentional international branding rooted in local identity.
A particularly significant aspect of the discussion centred on ethical labour mobility. Ms. Pantazopoulou highlighted Greece’s demand for skilled professionals, including engineers, and expressed interest in working directly with Kenyatta University to source talent from recent graduates and continuing students.
She also raised concerns over the growing international challenge of human trafficking and exploitative recruitment, emphasising the need for structured, transparent pathways that protect Kenyan youth from exploitation. Direct collaboration between the Consulate and Kenyatta University, among other Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), was proposed as a safeguard mechanism – ensuring legitimacy, goodwill and mutual benefit.
Mr. Maxwell Munge, Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, affirmed its support for such initiatives, noting the importance of aligning higher education, research and international cooperation with Kenya’s foreign policy objectives.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor welcomed the proposals and commended the Honorary Consul’s open-minded and holistic approach to partnership. He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to working collaboratively across disciplines and directorates to ensure tangible outcomes that benefit both the Kenyatta University community and Kenya at large.
Kenyatta University was deliberately chosen for this engagement, Ms. Pantazopoulou noted, citing its long-standing reputation as one of Kenya’s leading institutions, its breadth of academic offerings and its readiness to engage globally, given the internationalisation scope at the institution.
As discussions concluded, both parties expressed commitment to swift follow-up actions, spearheaded by Prof. Caroline Thoruwa, as the link; signalling the beginning of a partnership grounded in culture, skills, sports, ethics and shared international aspirations.