Following a report from BBC World regarding the deal which included the exact number of job vacancies, Germany’s Interior Ministry dismissed the deal in a statement it released.
Right after the German government on Saturday, September 14 denied claims that Kenya had secured a deal with over 250,000 jobs for its citizens in the European country, President William Ruto’s remarks on the same have emerged.
Following a report from BBC World regarding the deal which included the exact number of job vacancies, Germany’s Interior Ministry dismissed the deal in a statement it released.
The country’s Interior Ministry stated that the information that specified the availability of the 250,000 jobs was false, stating that the agreement did not contain any deal on the specific numbers.
The Ministry further explained that in the event of an agreement, all applicants have to undergo a specific shortlisting process that fulfils the requirements as listed in Germany’s Immigration Act.
President Ruto’s lies about signing a bilateral agreement with Germany to export 250K Kenyan workers are on record in an interview with the DW. Clearly, the word of a president should stand for something, except Ruto’s ????????. pic.twitter.com/4QB6D0J7Sp
— Wamutahi (@Son_of_Laikipia) September 15, 2024
‘’This information is clearly false. The agreement between Germany and Kenya does not include any numbers or quotas of skilled workers who will have the opportunity to work in Germany,’’ the statement read in part.
‘’All applicants must fulfil the strict requirements of the German Skilled Immigration Act,’’ the statement added.
However, President Ruto had confirmed that the deal was signed, including the very same figure the German government denied, noting that the deal would unlock new opportunities that would address the labour problem faced by the two countries.
‘’One of them is the agreement we signed, this agreement will unlock 250,000 job opportunities for young people from Kenya. That is a bilateral agreement between Germany and Kenya,’’ Ruto told DW, Germany’s State broadcaster.
“It is a win-win, there is a big labour deficit in Germany, there is a big labour oversupply in Kenya. How do you benefit Kenyans by giving them opportunities in here and how do you remove the deficit here by leveraging Kenya?”
On September 13, Ruto, alongside the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz witnessed the signing of a labour migration agreement, which will grant Kenyans the opportunity to move to Germany to work for various companies with ease as the European country continues to struggle with an ageing population.
The agreement also provides for a framework on the welfare of Kenyans who go and work in Germany.
Immigration To Germany
Following the signing of the deal, Kenyans may receive a temporary residence permit for to study in Germany for up to two years. This could also be extended if the purpose of the residence has not been achieved but is achievable within a shorter period. Germany has committed to waive the requirement to achieve its labour requirements.Â
The two countries will also cooperate in vocational education and training, especially to support skills development and capacity-building in vocational education and training.
Beforehand, President Ruto secured and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
The MoU will see Germany through its companies tap into the digital space and recruit more Kenyans to take up digital jobs.
President William Ruto and Friedrich Naumann Foundation officials at an MoU signing ceremony in Berlin, Germany on September 13, 2024. /STATE DEPARTMENT FOR DIASPORA AFFAIRS
