Ruto: Kenya devoted to executing labour deal with Germany

"We will adhere to best international labour migration practices."

In Summary
  • Germany agreed to open the doors to 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers in a controlled and targeted labour migration deal.
  • The country, Europe's biggest economy, also agreed to ease some of its immigration laws to enable Kenyans find jobs.
President William Ruto in a roundtable consultation with Kenyan and German firms on Labour Mobility, in Berlin, Germany. Meeting was also attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Raila Odinga and Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua, September 14, 2024. .
President William Ruto in a roundtable consultation with Kenyan and German firms on Labour Mobility, in Berlin, Germany. Meeting was also attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Raila Odinga and Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua, September 14, 2024. .
Image: PCS

Kenya is committed to the implementation of the labour agreement signed with Germany for the benefit of the two countries.

President William Ruto says given his word that Kenyan workforce required would meet the labour needs in Germany, and thanked the country for its support during the negotiations of the agreement.

"We are aware that the German labour market has a deficiency of close to 400,000 employees a year. Kenya is well-positioned to supply a good percentage of this requirement."

President Ruto explained that the Kenyan education system produces about one million young people into the job market every year, a number he said was “enough to supply the Kenyan and the international job markets".

He consequently assured investors that Kenya would not suffer any brain drain by exporting labour to countries experiencing shortages.

The President was speaking at a meeting with Kenyan and German companies a day after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Sharing of Labour, Talent and Mobility in Berlin on Saturday.

Under the deal, Germany agreed to open the doors to 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers in a controlled and targeted labour migration deal.

Germany agreed to ease some of its immigration laws to enable Kenyans find employment in Europe's biggest economy.

The agreement will also ease the repatriation of Kenyans who are in Germany without legal documentation.

Ruto made it clear that the companies involved in labour migration must be licensed, ethical and would not take advantage of Kenyan job seekers.

"As a government we are committed to ensuring that those in the Labour migration space are licensed, ethical and persons who will not take advantage of Kenyan job seekers. We will adhere to best international labour migration practices," he said.

At the same time, President Ruto announced that Kenya is rolling out a programme for teaching the German language in technical and vocational training institutions and colleges in Kenya.

"Already, several Kenya Medical Training Colleges are teaching German to students in the nursing courses," he said.

The President welcomed the investors to the German-Africa Investment Conference to be held in Kenya this December.

"I’m informed that over 100 German companies will attend the conference. We look forward to seeing you in Nairobi," he said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua were present. 

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