"We gather not only to listen to verses and rhymes, but to witness the power of language — how a few carefully chosen words can move hearts, spark ideas, and bring people together," Leonard Chacha, director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, said. Chacha noted that the event was not merely a contest, but a reminder that poetry remains alive in a world often filled with noise.

One of the participants, Millicent Ngugi, whose Chinese name is Meili, meaning beautiful, recited Ding Feng Bo by Su Shi, a celebrated poet of the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127).

"I have a better understanding of Chinese history because this poem was written in ancient times," she said. "I can picture the life, the culture, and the struggles people went through without modern technology."