Kenya’s persistent youth unemployment crisis is receiving a lifeline through international partnerships.
Mount Kenya University (MKU) is sending another group of nursing graduates to Germany for skills training and apprenticeship opportunities.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), more than 1.2 million young people join the labour market every year, yet only a small proportion secure formal jobs.
Youth unemployment currently stands at over 13 percent, while many others remain underemployed or pushed into casual work.
Against this backdrop, the Kenya–Germany labour migration pact signed in Berlin in 2024 has created new pathways for Kenyan learners to acquire skills and access dignifie
employment abroad.
One of the key beneficiaries of this bilateral agreement has been MKU, which has partnered with Hochschule Koblenz and AG Career Hub to train and deploy its nursing graduate to Germany.
Since the launch of the programme, 55 MKU students have successfully secured placements in German institutions.
During the second edition of the German Career Fair in Nairobi, 29 more nursing students were commissioned to travel to Germany next month. The event brought together Kenyan
and German officials who emphasized the pact’s significance in addressing skills gaps and tackling unemployment. Joachim Stamp, Germany’s Special Federal Commissioner for
Migration Agreements, said the initiative is mutually beneficial.
“The number of young people working or studying in Germany is increasing. The figures are not very high yet, but they are rising. We are creating more opportunities because we
need qualified people to be part of our society in Germany,” Stamp said.
Kenyan education leaders echoed his remarks, saying the partnership fits into the country’s long-term goals of creating jobs, boosting remittances and promoting knowledge
transfer. MKU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, described the recognition of MKU as a showcase institution in the pact as a milestone.
“I am grateful for selecting MKU as a showcase institution 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.
For the learners, the programme represents more than just jobs. It provides global exposure, advanced training and an opportunity to contribute to both local and international
healthcare systems.
“I’m very happy for this opportunity to further my studies in Germany. I’m optimistic that I will gain enough skills to not only help solve local but also global challenges that continue to
bedevil society,” said nursing student Lewis Kamanga.
His colleague, Rose Wahuthi, highlighted how the programme offers hope in Kenya’s tough job market.
“It’s been a seamless journey and I look forward to learning and gaining more experience in Germany which I will deploy back to help my country. This, I believe, is in some way helping solve joblessness in the country,” she said.
