Kenya and Germany have finalized negotiations on the draft Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement. This agreement aims to create a framework for cooperation on migration and labor mobility between the two nations. The negotiations occurred in Nairobi on May 14-15, following an initial round in Berlin, Germany, in March 2024.
Leading Kenya’s negotiations were Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime and Diaspora Affairs PS Roseline Njogu. The German delegation, on the other hand, was headed by Joachim Stamp, the Special Commissioner for Migration Agreements, and Holger Schamberg from the Ministry of Interior and Community.
As an international bilateral agreement, the draft will undergo internal legal and procedural reviews by both governments. The official signing is scheduled for September 2024, with the agreement’s implementation starting with a job fair in Nairobi. Both countries have pledged their commitment to realizing the agreement’s full potential through a joint implementation committee.
“We are committed to developing a clear framework to allow migration of Kenyan skilled workers in a safe, orderly and regular manner,” Mwadime said.
Mwadime emphasized that the agreement will facilitate mobility and expedite migration processes between Kenya and Germany. The decision to establish the joint committee was made in February, following discussions between Labour CS Florence Bore and her German counterpart Hubertus Heil in Berlin.
These negotiations stem from an initiative proposed by President William Ruto and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Bore communicated Kenya’s efforts to the German government, highlighting measures taken to streamline labor migration. These measures include policy restructuring and the enhancement of legal and institutional frameworks to facilitate seamless migration and mobility with Germany.
Kenya aims to address Germany’s skill shortages by offering its well-trained, qualified, hardworking, and disciplined workforce. The country boasts expertise in various fields such as ICT, healthcare, construction, engineering, agriculture, and hospitality, among others.
“We are able and ready to supply the required labour to fill in the skills deficient in your labour market,” she said.
