GERMANY, [September 15] – Berlin and Nairobi have announced a significant labour migration agreement aimed at addressing Germany’s growing shortage of skilled workers while providing Kenyan professionals with new employment opportunities abroad. This deal, signed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto, represents a strategic response to both nations’ pressing economic and employment needs.
Under the agreement, Kenya will send skilled and semi-skilled workers to Germany, though the specific number of entrants has not been disclosed. This move comes as Germany grapples with a shortage of qualified labor and Kenya struggles to offer sufficient job opportunities and income for its burgeoning workforce.
The German government has emphasized that the deal aligns with its broader immigration policies, designed to manage and regulate the flow of foreign workers. Additionally, it simplifies the process for repatriating Kenyans who are in Germany without legal status.
In a pilot initiative, five Kenyan bus drivers have already begun working in Flensburg, a city in northern Germany. This project is seen as a crucial step in Germany’s broader strategy to tackle its current immigration challenges, heightened by the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The agreement will also facilitate temporary residence permits for Kenyan workers with approved jobs and provide long-term visas for those pursuing studies or vocational training in Germany. Notably, IT specialists from Kenya will be eligible to work in Germany even without formal qualifications, a provision aimed at addressing the urgent need for technology professionals.
The deal includes robust protections against labor exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking, and sets out guidelines for the readmission and return of workers between the two countries.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Transport Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen, during the launch of the pilot project, underscored Germany’s need for skilled labor. “Germany must be positioned as a magnet for talent,” Madsen stated. The Kenyan drivers, recruited through the Aktiv bus company, are expected to be joined by other professionals, including doctors, nurses, and teachers.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has praised the agreement, noting it will enhance access to quality jobs for Kenyan workers in Germany and address labor shortages. “The deal provides essential protections and ensures a safe and effective migration process,” the ILO said.
Despite these positive developments, concerns persist about a potential brain drain in Kenya. Critics worry that the migration of skilled professionals might exacerbate existing shortages in the country’s healthcare system. Kenyan lawyer and politician Ekuru Aukot expressed concern, stating, “It is troubling that we are losing our talent to other countries while facing our own severe shortages.”
In response, Roseline Njogu, a senior official in Kenya’s foreign affairs, defended the deal as a necessary adaptation to global labor market demands. “With a large youth population and a million new job seekers annually, it is challenging to create sufficient opportunities domestically,” Njogu said.