MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Muhammadiyah Chairperson of the International Relations and Cooperation Syafiq Mughni welcomed a visit of the Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya, Witjaksono Adji, at the Muhammadiyah headquarters, Jakarta on Tuesday, July 1. The visit offered a strategic opportunity to strengthen collaboration in education, healthcare, and sustainable economic development.
Ambassador Witjaksono Adji expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized the embassy’s interest in working with Muhammadiyah to support educational and health initiatives, particularly in East Africa. He highlighted Muhammadiyah potential role in deepening people-to-people connections and strengthening relations with Muhammadiyah members across the region.
“We want to strengthen cooperation in education and healthcare. We believe Muhammadiyah can help us build closer relations with Muhammadiyah members in East Africa,” said Witjaksono Adji.
Witjaksono Adji also praised Muhammadiyah’s previous work in Uganda, especially its scholarship programs, and mentioned that local universities are showing interest in expanding academic cooperation, particularly in establishing a Faculty of Pharmacy at the Islamic University in Uganda.
“We know Muhammadiyah has already provided scholarships, and we hope that continues. There’s interest in developing pharmacy programs, which aligns well with Muhammadiyah strengths,” he added.
Witjaksono Adji hoped this partnership would continue to grow, with clear communication and concrete follow-ups between both sides.
Meanwhile, Program Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah Hening Purwati Parlan highlighted Muhammadiyah’s strong foundation in education and its growing global presence. She emphasized that civil society engagement is key to building Muhammadiyah’s institutional footprint abroad.
“Graduates from Muhammadiyah universities who are originally from Kenya can help establish a sister organization of Muhammadiyah in their home country,” said Hening.
Hening also stressed the value of building stronger international relations through shared commitments in religious values, education, and humanitarian action. Hening pointed out the possibility of opening new schools in Kenya, especially in fields like pharmacy, where Muhammadiyah has significant expertise.
“They’re interested in building a pharmacy school. Muhammadiyah has many universities, and the potential is there. What we need to focus on now is strengthening research and institutional capacity so collaboration with the Muhammadiyah Council for Higher Education, Research, and Development can move forward smoothly,” said Hening.
This meeting reflects Muhammadiyah’s growing global outreach and its commitment to meaningful partnerships that support education, healthcare, and social progress in communities beyond Indonesia.
