This Information is Clearly False - Germany's Interior Ministry Blasts BBC Over Ruto's 250,000 Jobs Deal

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President William Ruto
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (seated) signing visitors' book at State House on Friday, May 5, 2023.
PCS

The German Government on Saturday openly refuted claims that Kenya had secured a deal with over 250, 000 jobs for its citizens in the European country following a bilateral agreement with President William Ruto during his tour.

Germany’s Interior Ministry released a statement dismissing the deal after BBC World reported about the deal including the exact number of vacancies.

The country’s Interior Ministry rubbished the report stating that the information, specifically on the availability of the 250,000 jobs was false, stating that the agreement did not have any deal on specific numbers.

The Ministry further explained that in the event of an agreement, all applicants have to undergo a specific shortlisting process that fulfills the requirements as listed in Germany's Immigration Act.

Ruto and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
President William Ruto (left) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) during his State's visit to Europe on March 29, 2023.
PCS

‘’This information is clearly false. The agreement between Germany and Kenya does not include any numbers or quotas of skilled workers who will have the opportunity to work in Germany,’’ the statement read in part.

‘’All applicants must fulfill the strict requirements of the German Skilled Immigration Act,’’ the statement added.

Interestingly, President William Ruto confirmed the signing of the deal, including the figures that the German government denied noting that the deal was to solve the labour problems faced by the two countries.

‘’One of them is the agreement we signed, this agreement will unlock 250,000 job opportunities for young people from Kenya. That is a bilateral agreement between Germany and Kenya,’’ Ruto told DW, Germany’s State broadcaster.

Subsequently, the BBC reported that Germany had agreed to open the doors to 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers in a controlled and targeted labor migration deal.

The report added that the deal would help both countries address their labor problems where Kenya was set to benefit by getting job markets for its population faced with limited job opportunities as Germany was to benefit by getting access to the labour force.

Information from State House Kenya also confirmed the signing of the deal indicating that Kenya had secured the deal during a meeting involving the Kenyan delegation and their German counterparts held at the Chancellery in Berlin.

‘’Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi of Kenya and German Minister for Interior and Homeland Nancy Faeler signed the historic deal.’’ State House stated in a statement.

However, the statement by State House did not state the numbers that have turned to be the centre of controversy, despite the expectation that would the numbers be part of the deal, then it could have featured on the statement.

Ruto Scholz
President William Ruto and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on September 14,2024 during the signing of a bilateral agreement at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Photo/PCS
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