Germany trains 5 bus drivers from Kenya

Independently of the forthcoming German-Kenyan migration agreement, a pilot project to recruit bus drivers has been launched in the German City, Flensburg.

In the run-up to the German government's migration pact with Kenya, the company "Aktiv Bus" from Flensburg is making a move to combat the shortage of bus drivers as part of a pilot project, the company is training five prospective drivers from the African country Kenya, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The future colleagues were welcomed by Schleswig-Holstein's Transport Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen and the Kenyan Ambassador Stella Mokaya Orina. Madsen praised the pilot project as a pioneering initiative that could make a concrete contribution to closing the skills gap in local public transport. The CDU politician noted that there is currently a shortage of around 800 bus drivers in Schleswig-Holstein alone.

Ambassador Orina pointed out the potential for closer cooperation between Germany and Kenya, particularly in the area of recruiting skilled workers. The new colleagues from Kenya, three men and two women. They must now first learn German at the company's own language school. They also have to obtain a new driving license, as documents from outside the EU are not recognized.

We must not weaken countries of origin

"The recruitment and training of the skilled workers from Kenya shows how international cooperation can make a concrete contribution to solving local challenges," says the company "Aktiv-Bus" Managing Director Paul Hemkentokrax.

He wants to send a clear signal for controlled and targeted labor migration. It is important that both partners benefit from an agreement. Nevertheless, Hemkentokrax did not fail to mention the problem of the "brain drain", the weakening of the countries of origin due to the controlled withdrawal of well-trained specialists of all kinds. "What we are doing here must not be at the expense of the Republic of Kenya," emphasized the entrepreneur.

The pilot project was presented shortly before the signing of the migration agreement between Germany and Kenya. The pact is expected to be signed in Berlin on Friday. Migration agreements are currently being negotiated with a whole series of countries. They are seen as the key to managing immigration to Germany and the repatriation of rejected asylum seekers.

Francis Tawiah (Duisburg-Germany)