Ruto secures 1,000 Kenyan seafarer jobs in Norway deal

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President William Ruto has secured a commitment for the employment of 1,000 Kenyan seafarers by 2030 following talks with leaders of Norway’s maritime industry in Oslo.

According to a brief from State House, the jobs will be offered by Wilhelmsen Ship Management, one of the world’s leading ship management firms, with the first batch of 120 Kenyan seafarers expected to be recruited by the end of this year.

The commitment was confirmed during a meeting between President Ruto and Andreas Enger in Oslo, where the two discussed opportunities for Kenyan professionals in the global maritime sector.

The recruitment programme will target qualified Kenyan seafarers and maritime professionals, offering them opportunities to work on international vessels managed by Wilhelmsen Ship Management.

The development comes as the government intensifies efforts to position Kenya as a leading supplier of skilled labour to global markets, particularly in sectors facing workforce shortages.

Kenya has in recent years invested heavily in maritime training and skills development through institutions such as the Bandari Maritime Academy to equip young people with internationally recognised qualifications for employment in the shipping industry.

The latest commitment from the Norwegian maritime sector, State House said, will not only create jobs but also help transfer skills and expertise to Kenyan workers, strengthening the country’s capacity in the maritime industry.

The employment opportunities are expected to provide Kenyan seafarers with access to competitive international salaries, professional growth and exposure to global shipping operations.

The talks in Oslo also highlighted the growing economic cooperation between Kenya and Norway, particularly in the maritime, renewable energy and blue economy sectors.

For Norway’s shipping industry, Kenya represents an emerging source of skilled and trainable maritime personnel capable of meeting increasing demand for seafarers across the global fleet.

The commitment to recruit 1,000 Kenyans over the next five years is among the largest employment pledges made by an international maritime company targeting Kenyan workers.

The first group of 120 recruits is expected to join ships managed by Wilhelmsen before the end of 2026, with additional hiring planned progressively until the 1,000-job target is achieved by 2030.

The announcement is likely to be welcomed by thousands of Kenyan youth seeking employment opportunities in the global maritime sector, which continues to experience rising demand for skilled personnel.

The deal adds to President Ruto’s key achievements in Brussels, where he secured €102 million (Sh15.3 billion) under the EU–Kenya Digital Partnership to boost digital transformation, connectivity and job creation, alongside €37 million (Sh5.6 billion) in EU funding for the Blue Raman cable extension to strengthen regional internet access and lower bandwidth costs.

Ruto is in the European nations for a series of bilateral talks. He also advanced the EU–Kenya Digital Dialogue and data adequacy process, moving Kenya closer to becoming the first African country to secure EU data adequacy status, a step expected to unlock digital trade and tech investment.

In addition, he launched the Kenya–Benelux Chamber of Commerce to deepen trade and investment ties, and pushed discussions on expanding Kenya–Belgium cooperation, including improved regional transport links connecting Mombasa to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

If you want, I can tighten it further for web (more punchy paragraphs + stronger opening hook).