Nairobi,Kenya- In an effort to tackle high unemployment and potential political unrest, Kenya’s President William Ruto is encouraging young people to seek employment opportunities abroad. This initiative, which has been placed at the forefront of his political agenda, reflects both the structural unemployment in Kenya and the global demand for workers in countries facing demographic challenges.
One significant example is the recent announcement that 3,000 Kenyan bus drivers will be employed in Germany by Aktiv Bus Flensburg, as part of an agreement between the two nations. Germany, with its aging population, faces a severe labor shortage in key sectors, making it an attractive destination for Kenyan workers. This announcement was made just ahead of Ruto’s visit to Germany in mid-September, during which the president claimed that 250,000 jobs for Kenyans had been secured. However, Germany’s interior minister later clarified that while an agreement had been made, no specific job quotas were attached to it.
Beyond Germany, Kenya has also signed agreements with Canada and several Arabian Peninsula states to send both skilled and unskilled workers abroad. In May 2023, for example, Ruto pledged to send healthcare workers to Canada to help address that country’s own demographic challenges. Ruto has openly declared that exporting Kenyan labor is a central pillar of his administration’s policy. He stated that 5,000 Kenyans leave the country each week for job opportunities abroad.
Political analysts like Njahira Gitahi and Dauti Kahura suggest that this labor export strategy has an underlying political motive. With Ruto facing growing discontent, particularly from young people (often dubbed “Gen Z”) who protested the contentious budget bill earlier this year, these foreign job opportunities may serve as a way to diffuse domestic frustrations. By offering international employment, the government may reduce the likelihood of political backlash ahead of the 2027 elections.
As Kenya continues to negotiate labor export agreements with various countries, the strategy may prove to be a double-edged sword—alleviating short-term unemployment but also raising concerns about the long-term implications for the nation’s development and labor force.
Telegaraf News
