Kenya-Germany pact opens doors for youth as MKU sends fourth cohort of nurses abroad

Bilateral ties between Kenya and Germany continue to bear fruit, with hundreds of Kenyans benefiting from opportunities to study, train and work abroad under a labour migration deal signed last year.

The 2024 Migration and Employment Agreement, inked in Berlin, has paved the way for skilled Kenyan workers and students, particularly in the healthcare sector, to secure placements in Germany. Mount Kenya University (MKU) has emerged as a key driver of the partnership through its collaboration with Hochschule Koblenz and AG Career Hub.

Speaking during the second edition of MKU’s German Career Fair on Wednesday, where 29 nursing students were commissioned to join German hospitals next month, Vice Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi hailed the initiative as “a game-changer for Kenyan youth.”

“On behalf of Mount Kenya University, I express our sincere gratitude for selecting the institution as a showcase in the Kenya-Germany skilled labour migration partnership. This recognition reflects our shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for our young people while strengthening bilateral ties between our two nations,” Prof. Jaganyi said.

The VC noted that the university has redesigned its curricula to meet international labour market standards, introduced competency-based training and rolled out advanced German language programmes, including an AI-enabled learning tool launched in 2023.

“These initiatives ensure our students are not only academically prepared but also culturally and professionally ready to integrate into the German labour market,” he explained.

Prof. Jaganyi further revealed plans to expand the partnership beyond nursing into ICT, engineering, technical trades and other key sectors, while also introducing German language as part of MKU’s foreign languages portfolio.

“Our vision is to deepen partnerships with German institutions for cross-border training and digital learning programs, enhancing global employability for our graduates,” he said, adding that labour migration also drives Kenya’s economy through remittances, skills transfer, and knowledge exchange.

Germany’s Special Federal Commissioner for Migration Agreements, Joachim Stamp, echoed the VC’s sentiments, affirming his government’s commitment to opening more opportunities for skilled Kenyans.

“The number of young people working or studying in Germany is increasing. The numbers are not high yet, but they are rising, and we are creating more opportunities because we need qualified people to be part of our society,” Mr. Stamp noted.

The fair brought together senior officials from the German Embassy, Hochschule Koblenz, DAAD, and AG Career Hub, as well as beneficiaries of the programme. Among them were Lewis Kamanga, Rose Wahuthi and Margaret Waingo, who described the opportunity as life-changing.

“This is a chance not just to work abroad but to grow in our careers and bring back skills that will benefit Kenya in the long run,” said Kamanga.

With over three cohorts already deployed and more students set to follow, the Kenya-Germany labour partnership is steadily positioning itself as a model for skills trade, cultural exchange, and youth empowerment.