Dr Kipchanga Chemwotei, (left) Bonface Kirimi, Dorcas Mwendwa and Eric Muthomi.
When it comes to studying or living abroad, a majority of Kenyans think of the US, the UK, or maybe Canada. But few ever picture Slovakia as a small, landlocked country in Central Europe with just about 5.5 million people.
Yet, for a growing number of young Kenyans, this quiet nation, tucked between Austria, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic, has become a land of opportunity, education, and new beginnings.
Bonface doing PhD in Economics
Bonface Kirimi, 28, is a PhD student in Economics at the University of Economics in Bratislava.
One of them is Bonface Kirimi. When he left Kenya, he never imagined he would one day call Europe his home. He finished high school in 2015 and later joined Kisii University, graduating with a first class honours Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science.
When Covid-19 hit in 2020, Bonface’s dream of getting a job at the university was shattered. “The university had promised me a job,” he says, “but when the pandemic came, everything was disrupted.”
After months of job hunting, he got an internship at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in Nyamira. He worked for one year while searching for scholarships.
“I started applying for scholarships…I tried over 10. My friend abroad kept sending me links and encouraging me to apply. I wanted to do my Master's, but I had no money.”
His persistence paid off. In 2023, Bonface received the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship from the Tempus Public Foundation, to pursue a Master’s degree in International Economics at the University of Debrecen in Hungary.
“I landed in Budapest on September 6, 2023,” he says, “it was my first time abroad, and everything felt new and different. I’d thought people spoke English everywhere. I was shocked to learn they spoke Hungarian.”
Then came the food surprise. “We looked for a butchery to buy meat, but there were no butcheries. Everything is sold in supermarkets, and it is mostly frozen,” he recalls. Then came winter. “I had bought jackets from Gikomba, but they were too light for that cold. I had to buy new ones.”
Two years later, Bonface graduated, scoring an impressive GPA of 4.82 out of 5. Thereafter, he applied for a PhD.
“I started my PhD in Economics at the University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovakia, in September 2025,” the 28-year-old says. “It is a three-year programme.”
Moving to Slovakia came with new experiences. “The cost of living is higher than in Kenya,” he says.
He notes that while the Slovak economy is stable, it takes time for international students to adjust. “When you start earning here, it becomes easier. But if you convert everything to Kenyan shillings, it feels expensive.”
Social life has also been different. “It is not easy to make local friends,” he says. “People are more individualistic. In Kenya, we talk to strangers easily, there is that warm spirit. Here, everyone minds their own business.”
The Kenyan community has been his biggest support system. “We have WhatsApp groups and meet often. During Christmas, we meet, cook Kenyan dishes, and celebrate. It feels like home.”
He adds that the Kenyan Embassy in Vienna has been helpful to students in Central Europe. “Our ambassador is very supportive.”
As for his future, Bonface plans to stay in Europe a little longer. “I want to work and gain experience,” he says. “I am the firstborn in my family, so I have to stabilise things first. Maybe in about 10 years, I will return to Kenya and give back to my community.”
Dorcas studying trade management
Dorcas Mwendwa, 31, is a Master’s student in Trade Management at the University of Economics, based in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Dorcas Mwendwa is another Kenyan living in Slovakia. She left Kenya last year to pursue a Master’s degree. Dorcas had built a promising career in Kenya, working as an account manager for a leading software company. “I had also worked in account management at a large manufacturing company before that,” she says. “But I wanted to grow more in my career. That is what motivated me to go back to school.”
She is now at the University of Economics in Slovakia, pursuing a Master’s degree in Trade Management.
“So far so good,” she says.
Getting to Slovakia was not as complicated as she had feared. Being a self-sponsored student, she says, her school application went smoothly. “Once I submitted my documents, the university guided me, including what was missing,” she says.
The visa process, however, was a little challenging. The Slovak embassy only opened three days a week and took very few applicants. “It was difficult to get an appointment because they only took about nine people a week,” Dorcas recalls.
After arriving in Slovakia, getting a residence permit was the hardest part. The system for booking appointments often failed, and she had to stay up at night refreshing the website page, hoping to find an open slot.
Language barriers made things even tougher. “The officers at the foreign police did not speak English,” she says. “I had to go with a friend who could translate.”
After weeks of waiting, Dorcas finally received her residence permit for two years.
She now stays at the student accommodation in Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital. “I pay Sh14,980 a month for accommodation,” she says. Life there is much cheaper than in many other European countries. “Including food and transport, a student can live comfortably on Sh37,450 to Sh52,430 a month.”
She describes Slovakia as beautiful and calm, but very different from what she had imagined. “It is not what you see on the internet,” says Dorcas, who graduated from Pwani University in Kenya in 2016. “But with time, you get used to this place. Nowadays, I even visit places. One of my favourite places is the Pojnice Castle in Eastern Slovakia. It is beautiful, and the people there are so curious to see Black visitors.”
Slovakia’s education system, Dorcas notes, is much more practical than Kenya’s. “Here, we do many projects and practical assignments. It is not just about reading books and passing exams,” she says.
While many jobs in Slovakia require knowledge of the local language, Dorcas remains positive. “There are English-speaking startups and tech companies, especially in Central Europe,” she says. “Once I finish my studies, I plan to look for full-time work in that field.”
She has also found part-time work opportunities. “I worked with a tour company that organised city tours in Bratislava and Austria,” she says. “It was a great experience because it helped me meet people and explore new places.”
I ask her if she plans to return to Kenya, and Dorcas pauses. “Not at the moment. I would like to stay in Europe, maybe Slovakia or Austria, depending on where I find a good job.”
Eric studying economics
Eric Muthomi is a student at Martin Luther University in Germany.
At 29 years old, Eric Muthomi is a student at Martin Luther University in Germany, a dream he began chasing nearly a decade ago.
“I finished high school in 2015, but I repeated in 2016 because I wanted better grades and a scholarship,” he says. “I always dreamed of studying in Japan, South Korea, the US, or Europe.”
After several failed scholarship attempts, he finally got his big break in July 2019 when he received a scholarship from the government of the Slovak Republic to study economics. Just weeks later, on August 1, 2019, he boarded a plane to Slovakia, his first time abroad.
The excitement of a new life quickly met the reality of cultural shock. “Most people did not speak English,” he recalls. “We were three Kenyans, and we did not know anyone there. But a few Kenyans living in Slovakia helped us find our way; they showed us how to open bank accounts, get SIM cards, and even register for health insurance.”
Eric began with a 10-month language course before joining the University of Economics in Bratislava. “The education system there is very practical,” he says. “They test what skills you have learned, not just what you can memorise. Classes are small, so you can talk to your lecturers directly. And if you fail an exam, you get another chance.”
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Eric took a break from school and worked part-time jobs to sustain himself. “I worked in a Filipino company that made sushi and later in a supermarket,” he says. “The student jobs actually pay well. If you work full-time hours, you can earn more than some office workers.”
He later resumed his studies and has been pursuing his undergraduate degree in Economics. This year, he was awarded an Erasmus scholarship by the European Union to study at Martin Luther University in Germany for his final semester.
Life away from home has not always been easy. “I am homesick all the time,” he admits.
But he has also made the most of his time in Europe by travelling widely. “I have been to Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Qatar, Dubai, Nigeria, and Ethiopia,” he says.
Eric describes the cost of living in Slovakia as affordable compared to other European countries. “In student hostels, I paid around Sh18,000 per month, and the rooms had Wi-Fi, a fridge, and a microwave,” he says. “A full meal at the student cafeteria costs about Sh500, with rice, chicken, and juice.”
Dr Kipchanga, now a doctor
Dr Kipchanga Chemwotei.
When Dr Kipchanga Chemwotei left Kenya in 1998, he was a young man. Today, at 47, he sits comfortably in his office in Slovakia, working as an internal medicine doctor.
“I came here as a student,” he says. “I studied medicine.”
His journey began when one of his aunties, who worked at the Ministry of Education, told him about scholarships to study abroad. At the time, he had just joined a university in Kenya to study education. “My aunt mentioned Slovakia and Russia,” he recalls. “I did not know much about Slovakia, but I decided to take the chance. I was curious.”
In 1998, he boarded a plane to a country he could hardly locate on a map. Before joining medical school, he spent 10 months in the capital city learning the Slovak language. “That was tough,” he admits. “But I knew if I wanted to survive and study here, I had to learn it. If you do not speak Slovak, it is hard to get a job. But once you do, opportunities open up.”
After passing his entrance exams, he joined Comenius University for his medical studies and graduated in 2006. Seven years later, he completed his specialisation in internal medicine. “After that, I worked in hospitals for a few years, then opened my own private practice,” he says. “It is a fulfilling work. I attend to patients, do ultrasounds, and my day usually ends around 3.30 pm.”
Today, he says getting a job is much easier than when he first arrived. “The unemployment rate is around five per cent,” he says.
Life in Slovakia is comfortable, though not cheap. “A three-room apartment costs around Sh75,000,” he explains. “But education and healthcare are affordable. Children do not pay tuition, and health insurance covers most things.”
More than two decades later, Slovakia is home. He owns a house, and his children study there. His eldest daughter just turned 19 and is preparing for university. “I am settled here,” he says. “Maybe when I retire, I will spend part of my time in Kenya. But for now, my life is here. I try to go home every two or three years.”
