Whether it’s minimum wage, working hours regulations, or health insurance, every worker in Germany is equal; not just German citizens.

This was one of the key messages shared at the first-ever German-Kenyan job fair, which opened on Friday morning at the Sarit Expo Center in

 Nairobi. Prominent German companies like logistics giant DHL, machinery manufacturer Krones and the Bavarian Industry Association showcased opportunities for Kenyan job seekers.

Representatives from both the German and Kenyan governments presented initial measures and details of the new bilateral labour migration agreement signed just two weeks ago by President William Ruto and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

“We expect 500 to 600 visa applications for Germany in the coming months,” remarked Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua during the opening ceremony. “There are already 495 concrete job offers on the table, ranging from mechanics and cooks to receptionists and nurses.”

However, adequate language skills are a prerequisite. The Goethe Institute and the AG German Institute, two of the leading German language schools in Kenya are already experiencing a surge in enrollment, prompting discussions with universities to increase the number of German teachers in the country, as announced by the German Ambassador, Sebastian Groth.

“We want ethical migration. This means that minimum wage, working hours regulations, and health insurance are not just for Germans but apply to every worker in Germany,” Groth averred.

With an ageing population and a growing shortage of skilled workers, Germany’s federal government hopes to tap into the young, well-educated talent pool in Kenya to fill these gaps.

“We have many young Kenyans who cannot find employment here because our economy has not yet matured. Germany needs skilled workers. It’s a win-win situation,” Mutua stressed. He encouraged German companies to not only recruit but also consider training staff locally in Kenya, thus contributing to job creation within the country.

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