The government has launched the first German Language Programme at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay County in collaboration with German investors - to equip Kenyans immigrant worker with basic German language skills.

Announcing the move, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo on Thursday, May 9, 2024, stated that the Programme will help Accelerate the employment of Kenyans to plug labour deficits in the German work force.

"This initiative underscores the importance of equipping Kenyan workers with the necessary language skills to access opportunities abroad.

"Such endeavors not only facilitate the export of human resources but also contribute to the building of a broader diaspora community, which in turn enhances remittances and strengthens Kenya's economy," PS Omollo stated.

Following recent bilateral talks between President William Ruto and German Chancellor Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz, Kenya was integrated into the German Labour System through the Kenya-German Labour Migration Agreement.

In December 2023 President Ruti announced that Kenya was among the countries looked up to by Germany to plug the country's deficit of about 250,000 workers in the labour market.

The head of state assured job seekers that his government would make necessary preparations in getting them employed abroad.

A report by Spiegel International on March 14, 2024, indicated that German Cities had reported a shortage in school bus and public transport vehicle drivers - prompting them to explore foreign labour markets, including Kenya.

Kenya and Germany have since set up measures to help skilled workers immigrate to the European nation. Goethe Institute located in Nairobi is among the centres offering guidance for Kenyans looking to move to Germany.

The project manager Claudia Schilling notes that the process has been everything but easy.

"There is now a much stronger focus on Germany as a possible destination. That represents an opportunity for both sides," she says.

Schilling notes that a number of companies have called her looking for Kenyans to work in the bakery and healthcare industries.

"More than anything, we have to manage expectations at the moment. Many of them are unrealistic, on both sides," Schilling also warns.