When, Mr. Manfred Pentz, the German State Minister for Federal and European Affairs and International Affairs from the Federal State of Hesse, led a delegation in a courtesy call to Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, Mr. Shadrack Mwadime. This meeting was part of the broader German Delegation attending the German African Business Summit 2024, aimed at discussing potential areas of collaboration and partnership between the German Federal State of Hesse and the Government of Kenya.
During the meeting, PS Mwadime highlighted that Kenya possesses a skilled workforce that exceeds current national demands, noting that the country’s economic growth has not kept pace with advancements in the education sector. He pointed out that many Western European countries are facing challenges due to an aging population, despite their well-developed economies. “The Government of Kenya has decided to pursue a win-win situation with Germany, as their key need is skilled manpower, while our priority is to engage our young people,” Mwadime stated.
The Principal Secretary further elaborated on the government’s partnerships with German companies and local vocational training institutions, emphasizing the goal of aligning training programs with the skills required in the job market. A significant focus of this initiative is on Circular Migration, a model that has proven successful in countries like South Korea. This approach includes pre-departure training for migrants, ensuring they understand the context and expectations of their destination countries.
Mwadime also noted that the Kenyan government will facilitate interactions between local graduates and German employers, allowing for a better understanding of market needs. This alignment will ensure that the curriculum is tailored to meet the demands of the German job market, enabling young Kenyans to secure employment opportunities abroad upon graduation. “Our aim is to prepare the younger generation for the skills required by the German market, so they can seamlessly transition into the workforce,” he concluded.
