President William Ruto has announced that the first recruitment of Kenyans for skilled labour to Germany will be done in the next two weeks following a successful deal agreement for a controlled and targeted labour migration.

Ruto revealed that the recruitment which will be done on September 27 comes hot on the heels of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ visit to Kenya, where he announced that Kenya was one of the countries his government considers for a labour exchange programme.

Without specifying the number of skilled workers who will go to Germany for employment, the President acknowledged the fact that whereas Kenya was struggling with increasing unemployment, their host is in dire need of skilled labour.

“When Chancellor Olaf came here he announced that Kenya is one of the countries around the world his government was eyeing to fill the shortage in its skilled labour market,” Ruto said at the 14th anniversary of the Stewards Revival Pentecostal Church (SPRC) on Outering Road, Embakasi west yesterday.

Ruto who was at the church in the invitation of his long time friend, Samuel Njiriri, the head bishop, also had an opportunity to respond to some of his critics, most of them who are always apprehensive of his development promises.

He came back to the country early Sunday morning after two days in Germany, during which several labour agreements were signed with German officials at the Chancellery in Berlin.

The agreements cover cooperation in promoting the fair mobility of skilled workers, students, and apprentices and exploring temporary migration for vocational education, training, and employment opportunities, including seasonal work.

 “When I said Kenyans will secure job opportunities in Germany, some doubted me, but on Friday they saw our plan in action. Some Kenyans have already arrived, and on 27th September, we will have the first recruitment,” Ruto stated.

He described his doubters as a bunch of Kenyans who walk by sight, while the rest of the country, walk by faith. He assured Kenyans that Kenya Kwanza’s promises are not empty rhetoric, and emphasized his administration’s commitment to delivering on its goals despite the challenges it faces.

“We walk by faith because we see the possibilities. Some people don’t understand me because they lack that vision, and that’s the difference between those leaders who talk too much and us,” he said, also revealing that from October 1, the government will employ about 20, 000 youth in a major clean up exercise for Nairobi City.

The deal was first discussed during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Kenya in May 2023. While the exact number of Kenyans who will migrate under the deal remains unclear, German authorities have dismissed claims that 250,000 workers will be recruited.