Germany-Kenya Migration Agreement

Kenya and Germany have strengthened their cooperative relationship by establishing a comprehensive labour mobility agreement. Following German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Kenya and the subsequent joint declaration with President William Ruto in May 2023, both governments have engaged in dialogue to address Germany's demand for skilled labour and Kenya's capacity to meet it.

These discussions have also explored improved collaboration on the return of individuals without legal residency status in either country. This controlled migration agreement, signed in September by Chancellor Scholz and President Ruto, marks a significant step in opening pathways for skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers to enter Germany, fostering mutual economic growth and collaboration.

Following the signing of this migration agreement, a recent Job and Fair Conference in Nairobi offered participants—including government officials, recruiters, employers, and prospective Kenyan workers—the opportunity to discuss the agreement's potential to open new paths for skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan professionals, with a strong emphasis on ethics, integration, and sustainability.

This Migration Agreement represents a new milestone in labour mobility, building on Germany’s established mobility and migration agreements with countries such as Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Colombia, India, Georgia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

Benefits of the Agreement

This partnership addresses two significant needs: Germany’s critical labour shortages across multiple sectors and Kenya’s vast youth population, which faces limited formal employment opportunities. Every year, around 800,000 young Kenyans enter the job market, but only 10% find placements in the formal sector.

Many Kenyans work in the informal sector—about 84%—and while they are often skilled, they lack formal qualifications. The Germany-Kenya agreement, therefore, promises to unlock meaningful employment opportunities for Kenyans while addressing Germany's labour needs across healthcare, hospitality, IT, engineering, and skilled trades.

GIZ’s Three Pathways to Migration and Skills Alignment

The conference featured a presentation from GIZ. GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) is the German Agency for International Cooperation. It is a development agency owned by the German government, and it primarily works to promote sustainable development worldwide. GIZ often plays a role in facilitating vocational training, skill development, and migration pathways aligned with ethical and sustainable standards.

They proposed three primary immigration pathways for Kenyan workers, reflecting a tailored approach to varying skill levels:

1. Vocational Training in Germany for young Kenyans without formal skills.
2. Further Training in Germany for partially skilled Kenyan workers.
3. Direct Recruitment of Skilled Workers with recognised qualifications.

Currently, only 20 Kenyan vocational qualifications align with German standards, underscoring the need for curriculum adjustments in Kenyan Technical & Vocational Education Training (TVET) programs. GIZ suggested revising Kenyan TVET curriculums to German standards—a strategy successfully implemented in the past and likely to be more easily adopted in Kenya compared to other countries.

A Cautious Approach to Avoid Brain Drain

One important aspect of the agreement is preventing brain drain, especially in sectors vital to Kenya's own development. GIZ’s presentation acknowledged the need to avoid recruiting from sectors where a skills drain could jeopardise Kenya’s economic and social stability.

By focusing on areas where the Kenyan economy has surplus capacity, the agreement aims to balance Germany’s workforce needs with Kenya’s talent supply, ensuring sustainable outcomes for both countries.

Focusing on Critical Workforce Shortages

Germany faces severe labour shortages across several sectors, with healthcare being among the most affected. Currently, the German healthcare sector lacks approximately 400,000 skilled nurses—a figure projected to grow by an additional 100,000 within the next decade.

This shortage has led to hospital ward closures and delays in non-life-threatening surgeries due to understaffing. In addition to healthcare, other high-demand sectors include hospitality (chefs, receptionists), IT, engineering, technical trades, education, and services such as drivers, plumbers, welders, and shopkeepers.

Building an Infrastructure for Migration Support

In Nairobi, the AHK (Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa) has established a new role dedicated exclusively to managing issues related to the Mobility and Migration Agreement. Additionally, the German Embassy’s visa section will gradually increase staffing to meet the growing demand. The National Employment Authority (NEA) of Kenya also plays a crucial role in maintaining ethical recruitment standards.

During the conference, NEA reported that it had blacklisted 25 local recruitment firms for unethical practices and actively monitors existing firms to prevent fraud. The NEA website (neaims.go.ke) lists genuine, recognised recruitment firms to guide job seekers.

Upholding Ethical Standards in Recruitment and Employment

The commitment to ethical recruitment was a recurring theme throughout the conference. IOM highlighted the importance of adhering to IRIS standards (iris.iom.int), which ensure transparency and ethical conditions in recruitment.

To reinforce this standard, the general consensus at the conference was that job seekers should not be expected to pay recruitment firms for placement, aligning with global best practices in ethical employment.

The Importance of Language and Cultural Preparation

Effective integration in Germany hinges on language proficiency, as highlighted by numerous conference speakers, including Kenyans already living and working in Germany. Language is not only a tool for communication but also a key to faster adaptation and a smoother transition into German society.

However, a critical shortage of trained German language teachers in Kenya poses a challenge to fulfilling this need. The Goethe Institute noted that while the demand for German language education is high, there are insufficient resources to meet it.

As part of the agreement, the importance of pre-departure training was emphasised multiple times. The Goethe Institute offers free language training and private consultations, helping prospective workers build foundational skills before their departure.

Pre-departure cultural preparation was also recommended to help Kenyans acclimatise to German society. Moreover, many stakeholders noted the importance of educating the German public on the benefits of having foreign workers and sharing success stories to highlight the positive aspects of immigration.

Support from the Kenyan Diaspora

A strong Kenyan diaspora community already exists in Germany, and members expressed a willingness to assist new arrivals with integration and mentorship. Their presence serves as a valuable support network, helping newcomers adjust to life and work in Germany. However, some presenters also raised concerns about potential challenges, such as unfavourable political environments and instances of racism.

While certain areas of Germany, particularly Eastern regions, present integration challenges, larger cities were noted to be more welcoming, and recruiters generally feel more confident about integration success in urban areas.

Conclusion

This agreement does more than fill job vacancies—it establishes a foundation for sustainable, mutually beneficial migration built on trust, shared values, and cultural understanding.

With the German-African Business Summit (GABS) scheduled for early December in Nairobi, there will be further opportunities to refine and enhance the Mobility and Migration Agreement between Germany and Kenya. This high-profile event, which serves as Germany’s leading business forum in Sub-Saharan Africa, brings together key stakeholders from business and government, allowing further opportunities to refine and strengthen the Mobility and Migration Agreement, ensuring that it remains adaptive to the evolving needs of both nations.

For further information on this topic and more, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team at immigration@sterlinglexicon.com.