Thousands to work in Germany in new deal

In a groundbreaking move to tackle soaring unemployment rates, thousands of university and college graduates from Kenya will begin working in Germany starting this September.

This initiative is part of a pioneering bilateral labour agreement between Kenya and Germany, as announced by President William Ruto.

The President emphasised that the agreement is designed to export skilled Kenyan workers to Germany, providing them with valuable job opportunities abroad and that the strategy aligns with Kenya Kwanza’s plan to combat unemployment.

“I urge young people to pay close attention to the unfolding opportunities that have been unlocked through our overseas employment opportunities strategy. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs is spearheading the Kazi Majuu programme, and the National Employment Agency maintains an up-to-date database on available opportunities,” Ruto said during the closing ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector at Kabete National Polytechnic.

The celebration marked 100 years since the first formal TVET institute, currently known as Kabete National Polytechnic, was established in 1924. Before independence, seven other institutes were established in Mawego, Nairobi, Sigalagala, Kaiboi, Thika, Machakos, and Meru.

The President announced that a program to equip TVET colleges at a cost of Sh13 billion is now complete, thanking Germany and Canada, among other countries, for supporting the development of tertiary education in Kenya.

“It’s now upon the management of TVET to identify the institutions to benefit from the equipment,” President Ruto said.

Ruto also highlighted recent policy changes aimed at boosting local production by reducing dependence on imported goods, a strategy designed to expand employment opportunities.

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He noted that these changes have already increased local production, with 11 companies that had closed down resuming operations, saving up to Sh100 billion on foreign exchange and employing 16,000 people.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Principal Secretary Esther Muoria called on secondary school leavers to take up training opportunities to hone their skills, addressing the gap between training and industry skills mismatch. She indicated that proper training would boost job creation and catalyze self-employment in the country.

“Young people are the most valuable assets but unfortunately many lack necessary skills,” Muoria said, noting the ministry has taken steps to modernise the TVET sector, which has seen increased enrollment but still faces underfunding issues.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also emphasised the government’s commitment to investing in TVET institutions, noting a 51.8 per cent increase in enrollment as a result. The government has upgraded TVET institutions with state-of-the-art equipment and machinery to ensure globally competitive skills and has mainstreamed TVET for differently-abled trainees.

He highlighted the need to adapt TVET training to the emerging global environment, including areas such as artificial intelligence and advanced robotics.