Now Kenyan bus drivers are supposed to save German public transport
In German cities, there is a shortage of bus drivers, and public transport companies are urgently seeking personnel - now even on the shores of Lake Victoria in East Africa. We accompany Kenyans who will soon be driving on the roads of Northern Germany.
Reporting from Homa Bay and Nairobi, Kenya, Heiner Hoffmann and Khadija Farah (Photos).
February 11, 2024, 4:50 PM
Kenya has risen to the top of the list of potential source countries for workers in Germany, not just for bus drivers. The two countries are currently working on a migration agreement aimed at facilitating job migration for Kenyans. Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Nairobi last year on a state visit, praising the opportunities in the German job market. Kenyan President William Ruto even mentioned at a press conference after the meeting that his compatriots could fill 250,000 positions in Germany. However, this figure far exceeds the total demand for labor migration to Germany. Nevertheless, the hype had already begun.
The Goethe-Institut in the capital Nairobi offers consultations for those considering migration, and their advisory sessions have been well attended since the Chancellor's visit. "The demand has increased significantly, and Germany is now much more prominently on the radar as a destination country. This presents a great opportunity for both sides," says project manager Claudia Schilling. She now receives calls from bakers in North Rhine-Westphalia looking for apprentices and high school graduates from Kenya wanting to work in the German healthcare sector. However, Schilling also warns: "We need to manage expectations, which are sometimes unrealistic, on both sides."
The hurdles are still high. For example, more than a hundred candidates have been identified by an agency from Berlin-Mitte in Kenya, with which bus driver Sunday also intends to come to Germany to help with local transport. The former Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein, Torsten Albig, is a co-founder of the company. They have just concluded the first contract for five bus drivers with a North German transport company - and it was not straightforward.
"It's a pilot project, and the bureaucratic challenges are enormous," says co-founder Bärbel Boy. "We can see: Germany is not yet an immigration country." It starts with the recognition of qualifications: Although all candidates from Kenya already have a bus driver's license, their driver's license for cars is not accepted in Germany. So, they have to start from scratch. In addition, they have to pass a chamber of commerce examination, which can take up to six months. The potential costs for public transport companies: several thousand euros. Britta Oehlrich, managing director of the transport company Hamburg-Holstein, is not discouraged by such obstacles given the acute shortage of recruits: "When it comes to recruiting employees, we have to explore new paths."
On the shores of Lake Victoria, it's time for a lesson. A German teacher stands before the aspiring professionals and reviews the material from past hours, starting with an introduction round. "I am Stephen Sunday, and I am a bus driver," says the student, almost accent-free. He has practiced the sentence many times. The German exam is scheduled for the weekend, Level B1, and everything must go smoothly. "This test stands between you and the journey to Germany, remember that," increases the pressure Teacher Connie Achieng.
Then it's time for bus studies. The teacher explains that before starting duty, the vehicle must always be checked for cleanliness and sufficient fuel. It's important to arrive at work fit and well-fed. The attendees listen attentively and take notes. If all goes well, they should be on a plane as early as March.
It's clear: Germany urgently needs workers from abroad, not only highly skilled IT specialists and engineers, but also people who drive buses, repair cars, and care for the elderly. Kenya's education system, on the other hand, enjoys a good reputation in Africa, and graduates from high schools and universities are considered relatively well-educated and highly motivated. However, only a fraction of them find suitable jobs in the country, as the economy is struggling. Labor migration to Germany could therefore be a win-win situation.
Two weeks ago, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited the country, and the topic of labor migration was prominently discussed once again. Currently, an agreement between Kenya and Germany is being drafted, which would be the second of its kind in Africa after the one with Morocco. These so-called migration partnerships aim to create more opportunities for legal migration to Germany, especially for skilled workers. Candidates will be specifically prepared for life in Germany, including through orientation courses. At the same time, the countries of origin commit to accepting citizens who are obligated to leave Germany.
"The issue is at the top of the agenda, but unfortunately, German bureaucracy still lags behind in some respects," says Maren Diale-Schellschmidt from the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK) in Kenya. The AHK now offers its own dual vocational qualifications and has been trying for several months to have them recognized as equivalent in Germany. This is intended to reduce bureaucratic hurdles when leaving the country. "Even if we succeed, it doesn't mean that local authorities in Germany will automatically follow the recognition," complains Diale-Schellschmidt. In some cases, each municipality decides differently. The process has been very drawn out for previous graduates.
Several legislative changes since November 2023 aim to gradually dismantle such bureaucratic hurdles, at least for certain professional groups. The recognition of qualifications should be facilitated and, in some cases, even eliminated. However, the path ahead is still long, as demonstrated at Mount Kenya University, located an hour's drive from Nairobi.
On the 13th floor, at the top of the rooftop terrace, Dr. Christopher Mutembei welcomes guests from DER SPIEGEL. From here, there's a 360-degree view over the barren landscape outside the capital city's gates, with the blue of the university pool shimmering below as a group of students splash around in the water. Mutembei heads the Center for Professional Development, and he has ambitious plans. He aims to send 10,000 graduates from the university to Germany, which would constitute one-fifth of all enrolled students. "The interest is enormous, if only there were enough German teachers," he laments. Due to the current boom, there's a scarcity of trained educators available.
So it starts small at Mount Kenya University, with a pilot project in collaboration with Koblenz University of Applied Sciences. On the first floor of the university building, a group of young people in green scrubs surrounds dolls lying on hospital beds. The students check the pulse, measure blood pressure, and change infusions. They are being trained for deployment with German patients. In the lecture hall just around the corner, German is being practiced: Jeremy Maina conjugates the verb "kochen" (to cook). He often jumps in as a teacher.
Maina speaks fluent German, having lived in Germany for almost ten years as a student. During his studies, he took on numerous odd jobs: he worked as a scaffolder, in a laundry, and even delivered the SPIEGEL magazine. Then he returned to Kenya without completing his degree, from where he applied to numerous training positions. "I sent out dozens of applications, but only received rejections," he says. Many such stories are heard in Kenya.
At the end, Jeremy Maina was lucky. He came across an advertisement on the internet seeking healthcare workers for Germany. "I didn't want to believe it at first, thought it was another shady agency. But then my sister saw the ad on TV too," Maina recounts. So he applied and got accepted. He practiced on the dolls in the training room, attended courses on intercultural understanding. In August of last year, he completed the seven-month preparation at Mount Kenya University. Then he was supposed to start at a Caritas clinic in Baden-Württemberg. But for the time being, nothing happened.
Because to start as an apprentice in Baden-Württemberg, the Regional Council of Stuttgart must first recognize the school leaving certificate. And that takes time, an average of six months. "I knew how things work in Germany, it didn't surprise me. But the others were really frustrated," the 37-year-old explains. While good news has just arrived – his recognition has been approved, and the apprenticeship contract signed – now he still needs the visa. The average processing time for that is three to four months.
Caroline Mwangi, a Kenyan national, played a pivotal role in establishing the programme at Mount Kenya University. Currently residing and working in Nuremberg, Mwangi also heads a diaspora network for fellow Kenyans in Germany. She provides support for newcomers, offering mentoring and integration courses. "Without proper guidance and support measures, most individuals have little chance of navigating through the bureaucratic maze," she remarks.
However, such support is often lacking. Instead, an increasing number of shady agencies seek to profit from the current boom and exploit the plight of Kenyans. They extort four-figure sums from potential candidates—before even signing an employment contract. On the internet, they promise 60 days of holiday, high incomes, and an all-inclusive package. Even the Kenyan government now warns against such charlatans. "We need to channel the gold rush mentality into orderly channels," says Mwangi.
In Homa Bay, the aspiring bus drivers are currently heading to the city hospital for medical examinations. They carry a long list with them: eye check-up, comprehensive blood tests, reaction tests. Stephen Sunday covers one eye and reads a few letters from the wall. Then he stumbles a bit, and the doctor diagnoses mild short-sightedness. In Kenya, the bus driver was on the road day and night without glasses, but that is about to change. However, his departure will not be hindered by the need for glasses. In a few weeks, he will find himself in the German late winter—if all goes well. "I will certainly do my best," he says.
