3000 Kenyan bus drivers to get Jobs in Germany

Traffic jam on the motorway in Hamburg, Germany. [File, Standard]

More than 3000 bus drivers will benefit from employment in Germany, Stella Mokaya, the Kenyan Ambassador to Germany has said.

Mokaya said this follows successful bilateral talks she spearheaded together with Rose Wanja, who is the local representative of Skillution Germany.

She said that they have already received two ladies and two men from Kenya who will join Activ Bus Fiensburg.

Speaking during the ceremony Paul Hemkentokrax, Managing Director aktiv bus Flensburg, while welcoming the Kenyan drivers, said: “Taking all aspects into account, we are missing 400,000 workers in the Federal Republic of Germany every year, which is around 0.9 per cent of the 46 million people in employment. In 10 years that is 9 per cent,” Hemkentokrax said.

The ambassador was optimistic that the four will exhibit their driving skills in Germany.

“Germany was the first country to recognise Kenya's independence in 1963 thereby laying a firm foundation for a partnership that has brought stronger bilateral partnership a good example of international cooperation,” she said

She noted that the partnership between Germany and Kenya extends to energy, trade, climate change, cultural exchange, education and transport.

“Both Germany and Kenya are working closely to address mutual concern on labour mobility and a comprehensive labour mobility partnership agreement is due to come to force soon,” Mokaya said.

Wanja said that the first batch of drivers from Homa Bay for the pilot project enrolled in Tom Mboya University to learn German.

She revealed that Kenya's driving licence is not recognised in Germany and she had to get an instructor to take Kenyan drivers through the traffic rules.

“We drive on the left and overtake on right while Germany drivers drive on right and overtake on left as such we had to get this training so that our drivers become seamless in Germany. We should also liaise with local bus and car builders to make us left hand drive cars to make us marketable in nations like Germany,” she said.

Wanja appealed to Germany to sponsor courses in Kenya, citing a technical colleges like Kabete polytechnic.

“This approach will minimise skilled labor shortage in Germany,” she said.