3,000 Kenyan bus drivers to get jobs in Germany

Rose Wanja, who is the local representative of Skillution Germany. [George Njung'e, Standard]

More than 3,000 Kenyan bus drivers will be employed in Germany, Kenyan ambassador to Germany Stella Mokaya has said.

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

 Ms Mokaya said they have already received two women and two men from Kenya who will join Aktiv 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."

 The ambassador said the four drivers will demonstrate 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 said 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 soon,” Mokaya said.

 Wanja said 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 German 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 labour shortage in Germany,” she said.