Monday, September 7, 2026

Germany begins recruiting 250,000 bus drivers, computer repairers from Kenya

The deal would also facilitate the deportation of Kenyans who lacked the right to live in Germany.

• September 13, 2024

German and Kenyan governments, on Friday, signed an agreement to hire 250,000 workers, including bus drivers from the African nation and also ease the repatriation process for undocumented Kenyan immigrants.

As part of effort to address his country’s ageing workforce, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recruited workers from Kenya in a labour migration deal that would also facilitate the deportation of Kenyans who lacked the right to live in Germany.

“This can help us to compensate for a shortage of skilled workers,” Mr Scholz told reporters after the signing ceremony at the chancellery in Berlin with Kenyan President William Ruto.

“On the other side of the coin, so to speak, the agreement provides for effective return procedures for those who have come to us from Kenya but do not have or cannot acquire the right to stay here. They can now return home more easily and quickly,” Mr Scholz stated.

While Germany wanted to fill a wide gap in labour shortage, Kenya lacked the wherewithal to provide suitable employment for its millions of youths and the migration deal appeared to resolve their shortfalls.

Already, Flensburg welcomed five bus drivers from Kenya in a pilot project to presumably train and acquaint them with Germany’s driving rules and routes.

Mr Ruto said the migration deal was mutually beneficial to both countries as it would connect competent Kenyan migrants with Germany’s advanced tech tools and resources.

He dismissed worries that Kenya might suffer a brain drain, asserting that the African nation boasted of a massive youth population that would not be adversely affected.

Kenyan’s prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi and German interior minister Nancy Faeser signed the migration deal in the presence of their principals.

Mr Scholz, who has already signed a similar immigration deal with Morocco, India and Georgia, was looking to sign the same deal with Uzbekistan.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Chairman of Ikole council area in Ekiti, Bayo Omojola

Anti-Corruption

Ekiti ‌LG boss warns revenue collection officers against corruption

The chairman of Ikole council area in Ekiti, Bayo Omojola, has warned the council’s revenue collection officers against diverting government funds into private accounts.

Uncategorized

Dozens killed in bus transporting schoolchildren in Cape Verde

The crash occurred on Saturday. The bus was transporting schoolchildren from Curral Grande and Ponta Verde on a field trip.

DisCos

Economy

NISO rejects payment proposal by DisCos, threatens sanctions

NISO has rejected payment proposals from some electricity distribution companies to settle their outstanding obligations to the Nigerian Electricity Market and service providers.

Africa

Nigeria facilitates Sierra Leone’s ex-President Koroma’s safe return

The federal government has facilitated the safe and dignified return of Sierra Leone’s former President Ernest Koroma to the country after more than two years in Nigeria.

Body bags used to illustrate this story (Credit: X)

States

Three siblings found dead near river in Ondo: Police

The police command in Ondo has said that the bodies of three siblings were found near a river on a farm around the Owena Military Barracks area of Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Globe showing proposed Africa map

Rights

ITUC-Africa commends Togo over UN correct Africa map adoption

ITUC-Africa has commended Togo for spearheading a United Nations resolution correcting Africa’s geographical representation.