🎬 Ruto's different scripts

ECONOMY
Nairobi and Berlin tell contradicting stories

Last week, Kenya and Germany signed ‘an ambitious’ labor migration deal that will offer jobs to skilled and semi-skilled Kenyans who want to work and live in the European nation.

The Migration and Mobility Partnership deal would see Germany ease some of its migration laws to enable Kenyans, particularly unemployed youth, to find jobs in Germany. However, there’s already trouble in paradise as German authorities have already dismissed President Ruto’s version of the number of Kenyans to benefit from this project.

Confusion over numbers

In an interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Ruto said the deal will enable 250,000 Kenyans to find jobs in Germany starting 27 September.

“When I said Kenyans would secure job opportunities in Germany, some doubted me, but things are slowly taking shape,” Ruto said, adding that he remains committed to delivering on his promise to provide employment opportunities for as many young unemployed Kenyans as possible, both domestically and abroad.

Germany’s Ministry of Interior, however, has dismissed Ruto’s claim saying “This information is false”, clarifying that the agreement between Kenya and Germany does not specify any number of workers who will have the opportunity to work in Germany.

Vote of no confidence. Kenyans are, however, skeptical about the president’s motives. Especially after the president’s recent blunders with the finance bill and airport lease protests. Alenga Torosterdt, a governance and communication expert says “Ruto has lost credibility due to his numerous promises and the nonfactual information he has provided, which lack clarity.”

On the other hand…Ruto’s migration policies place him in elite company among select African countries -all in Northern Africa- who have signed migration deals with the EU. The most prominent of which are Tunisia and Morocco with France and Spain respectively.

Won’t be his first rodeo. Earlier in the year, Ruto sealed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to ease immigration of unemployed Kenyan nurses into the kingdom. That too crumbled. —TD.

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