Kenya has launched a new chapter in its history of labour and education diplomacy with the first cohort of youth preparing to take up job opportunities in Germany under a landmark labour lobility agreement.
The inaugural cohort of the youth, drawn from Tom Mboya University, is set to take up opportunities in the European nation after nearly a year of training and preparation.
They will fill gaps in sectors such as healthcare, engineering, and hospitality, in what officials describe as a structured and dignified path to global employment.
Speaking Thursday when he met the group, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the pact marks a turning point in the country’s efforts to tackle youth unemployment while meeting Germany’s growing need for skilled workers.
“This program is anchored in a formal Labour Mobility Agreement,” Omollo said.
“It provides safe opportunities, eases immigration procedures, and safeguards you from unscrupulous agents. Fear not, you are not walking into uncertainty.”
He drew parallels between the initiative and the famous 1960s student airlifts championed by the late Tom Mboya.
Those airlifts sent dozens of young Kenyans, among them Barack Obama Sr., to study in the United States, shaping both Kenya’s future and the world’s.
Omollo told the pioneers they were not only pursuing personal ambitions but also carrying the hopes of their families, communities, and the country.
“Today, after nearly a year of preparation and study, you are ready to sit for your German proficiency test,” Omollo told the cohort.
“Passing this test is your gateway, the step that places you firmly on the path to Germany.”
Encouraging the pioneers, Omollo reminded them of their role as torchbearers.
“When you thrive, you uplift your families. When you excel, you grow Kenya’s standing in the world. As you take your flight, remember, the world is not too big for you. You have a huge field to chase your dreams,” he stated.
The Labour Mobility Agreement between Kenya and Germany, the first of its kind signed between Germany and an African country, seeks to tackle Kenya’s high youth unemployment while meeting Germany’s demand for skilled labour.
The program is a key plank of President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to create jobs both at home and abroad.
A key pillar of the program has been German language training, previously a major barrier for many applicants.
Tom Mboya University has now been accredited as a German Language Examination Centre, removing the need for students to travel to Nairobi for certification.
