Thousands of Kenyan Graduates to Work in Germany from September

Thousands of Kenyan Graduates to Work in Germany from September

To address rising unemployment rates, thousands of Kenyan university and college graduates will begin working in Germany from September.

This initiative stems from a groundbreaking bilateral labor agreement between Kenya and Germany, as announced by President William Ruto.

The agreement aims to export skilled Kenyan workers to Germany, providing them with valuable job opportunities abroad. It aligns with Kenya Kwanza’s plan to combat unemployment.

President Ruto urged young people to pay close attention to the new opportunities emerging through the overseas employment strategy.

The State Department for Diaspora Affairs is leading the Kazi Majuu program, while the National Employment Agency keeps a current database of available opportunities.

He made these remarks at the closing ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector at Kabete National Polytechnic.

Celebrating 100 Years of TVET

The celebration at Kabete marked a century since the first formal TVET institute, now known as Kabete National Polytechnic, was established in 1924.

Before independence, seven other institutes were founded in Mawego, Nairobi, Sigalagala, Kaiboi, Thika, Machakos, and Meru.

President Ruto announced the completion of a program to equip TVET colleges at a cost of Sh13 billion, thanking Germany, Canada, and other countries for supporting the development of tertiary education in Kenya.

He stated that it is now the responsibility of TVET management to identify which institutions will benefit from the equipment.

Additionally, President Ruto highlighted recent policy changes aimed at boosting local production and reducing dependence on imported goods to expand employment opportunities.

He noted that these changes have already led to the reopening of 11 companies, which saved up to Sh100 billion on foreign exchange and provided employment for 16,000 people.

Addressing Skills Mismatch and Underfunding

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Principal Secretary Esther Muoria encouraged secondary school leavers to pursue training opportunities to address the gap between training and industry skills.

She emphasized that proper training would enhance job creation and promote self-employment in the country.

Young people are valuable assets, but many lack the necessary skills. Muoria mentioned that the ministry is taking steps to modernize the TVET sector, which has seen increased enrollment but still faces underfunding issues.

Government’s Commitment to TVET

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi highlighted the government’s commitment to investing in TVET institutions, noting a 51.8 percent increase in enrollment due to these efforts.

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 stressed the importance of adapting TVET training to the emerging global environment, including areas such as artificial intelligence and advanced robotics.

Thousands of Kenyan Graduates to Work in Germany from September

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