Ruto, German Chancellor ink deal to upgrade, expand TVETs

President William Ruto with the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz at State House, Nairobi. [PCS]

At the same time Kenya will change its curriculum to accommodate these changes and adopt a policy of twinning institutions where TVETs will be paired with selected colleges in Germany.

This will facilitate the anchoring of labour migration from Kenya to German once students graduated.

The meeting also agreed to expedite the establishment of a framework for robust exchange programs between Kenyan and German Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

Germany, Ruto further said had agreed to enhance the capacity of the the Hustler Fund so as to increase affordable and easy access to credit for unbanked medium and small enterprises at the bottom of the pyramid.

The German Chancellor agreed to support Kenya's efforts to conclude negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the East African Community and the European Union.

On Energy, the Head of State said, "Our grid is 92 per cent green, and our commitment is to
achieve 100 per cent green energy by 2030. While our current grid is 3 Gigawatts, the potential is huge, and our ambition is to make a quantum leap to 100 Gigawatts by 2040."

He announced that Germany has been supported Kenya's quest for renewable energy journey, in the past and was still committed towards increasing the capacity of the Olkaria Geothermal Station.

The President and German Chancellor underscored the need for concerted efforts to reverse the effects of climate change and agreed to work together in the search for solutions in renewable energy, including production of green hydrogen and sustainable agriculture.

"I emphasized the need to move beyond the debate on adaptation and loss and damage, and to engage in a candid conversation on climate finance and investment, which would unlock our potential for green economic growth." Ruto said.

He noted that that the current international financial system is inadequate in dealing fairly with multifaceted global crises, including recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic, the climate emergency and the debt crisis in the global south.

At the same time Ruto announced that Kenya will host the Africa Climate Action Summit from September 4 to 6 and Germany has committed to provide financial and technical assistance for the event.

"Kenya has also confirmed its official joining of the Climate Club Initiative, which calls for the expeditious implementation of the Paris Agreement," he said.

Ruto and Scholz also discussed regional peace and expressed concern over the unfortunate events in Sudan and their effects to the region and called for immediate unconditional cessation of hostilities, humanitarian aid access and protection of civilians.

"I urged Chancellor Scholz to use his voice and Germany's influence in various platforms, including the EU, G7, G20 and the UN, to focus global attention on the forgotten conflicts in Africa in general and the Horn of Africa in particular," the President Ruto.

On Ukraine, he said Kenya has consistently supported the principles of the United Nations Charter which call for respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes.