Yes, you can! This is provided by the new migration policy, which includes an ‘Opportunity Card,’ allowing individuals to enter Germany for a year while they search for a job, without needing a contract beforehand.
“If applicants have certain qualifications in skills, language or education, and meet a points threshold, they get the visa,” Germany Ambassador Sebastian Groth told the Star in an interview.
The new visa is particularly designed to allow skilled non-EU citizens to reside in Germany for up to a year while searching for a job.
It’s particularly useful for those who don’t have a concrete job offer but possess skills and qualifications that are in demand in Germany.
This presents an opportunity for skilled Kenyans to seek opportunities while on the ground in the European country, which is facing a growing demographic gap.
“Germany has a growing demographic gap. Estimates suggest we need between 250,000 and 400,000 skilled workers annually,” Groth said.
President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration pursues labour migration opportunities for Kenyans under the ‘Kazi Majuu’ initiative in a bid to deal with high unemployment.
The initiative involves strengthening partnerships with other states, creating safe and structured migration pathways particularly in the Middle East, and developing a skilled workforce to meet global demands.
In September, Kenya became the first sub-Saharan African country to sign a labour migration agreement, marking a shift in the country’s migration policy. However, the initiative faced confusion when the government claimed Kenya had secured 250,000 job slots through the deal.
“It’s an open competition,” Ambassador Groth clarified. “If Kenyans are best suited for the roles, they will fill them. But they’re also competing with applicants from countries like the Philippines, Brazil and Morocco.”
Terming the initiative “a very important project for the embassy”, Groth said they are focusing on specific sectors, such as hospitality, care work and logistics.
“Germany urgently needs bus drivers, tens of thousands
of them. Just this morning, I heard a report about bus service reductions
due to driver shortages. In Germany, unlike in Kenya, buses must run on strict
schedules. That’s difficult now without enough staff,” he said.
“For example, we had a group of four or five drivers trained in Kisumu who are now working in Flensburg. The numbers are still modest but growing steadily.
“Nurse placements, for instance, tripled from 50 to 150 in just one year. At this pace, we’ll see significant mobility between Kenya and Germany in the coming years.”
Responding to brain drain concerns, the envoy said they have been cautious and even conducted a study by GIZ, Germany’s development agency.
Groth said it is not in the interest of Germany to strip Kenya of its human capital but noted there’s a labour oversupply in many sectors in Kenya.
“Each year, 800,000 to 1 million young Kenyans enter the job market, with 85 per cent ending up in the informal sector. That shows there’s room to send workers abroad without harming the local economy,” he said.
“Remittances from abroad also strengthen Kenya’s economy. And with circular migration, skilled workers often return after 10 to 15 years with new expertise and networks. That benefits Kenya’s economy as well. So it really is a win-win situation.”
The ambassador also spoke to the Star about his tenure in Kenya, investments, emerging political trends, democracy and culture.
What
stands out as your primary achievement and the most demanding challenges in the
last three years?
Germany was the first country that recognised Kenya’s independence in 1963, and since then, we have travelled a long journey together.
Germans are one of the biggest groups of tourists, for example. We also have a rising number of Kenyans going to Germany to work and live.
What I wanted to achieve when I came here was to expand our relationship, moving beyond the traditional development cooperation into a real political partnership. This means shifting away from the old donor-recipient dynamic and working instead on a joint agenda based on equality, mutual respect and shared interests. In this regard, I think we’ve achieved quite a lot, especially in the field of climate.
Kenya is now a key partner for Germany on climate
policy. We can even learn from Kenya, which already has 94 per cent renewables
in its energy mix. We collaborate in multilateral climate negotiations, pushing
for reforms in climate finance, better funding for loss and damage, and greater
technology transfer. This is no longer just development cooperation — it’s a
true political partnership and a symbol of a functioning North-South
collaboration.
Another example is the digital space. Kenya is a front-runner in digital innovation, and globally, there’s an urgent need to regulate technologies like AI and other digital advancements. We’re working closely with Kenya on this. We have excellent ties with the President’s tech envoy, Philip Thigo, who has visited Germany several times.
Kenya was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa with which we established an official digital dialogue. Kenya also co-hosted a UN-related forum with us and the United Nations, attended by 17 African countries. Ideas from that forum fed into the UN Secretary General’s ‘Summit of the Future’.
We’ve also had strong engagement at the highest political levels. President Ruto and former Chancellor Olaf Scholz met six times in just two and a half years, more than any other sub-Saharan African leader. We’re continuing this momentum under the new Chancellor.
On a softer note, Kenya was invited to President [Frank-Walter] Steinmeier’s annual Citizens’ Festival — the first non-European country to participate — showcasing Kenyan food, music, fashion and culture in the Garden of the Federal Presidency.
Excluding foreign jobs, what promising business
sectors can Kenyans explore, and what incentives are needed?
The future of our relations lies more in entrepreneurship and investment than anywhere else. Kenyans and Germans are both highly entrepreneurial, so it’s a strong match.
German companies’ presence in Africa is still growing. Kenya has about 120 German companies, and we’re seeing increased investment, partly due to geopolitical shifts. Some companies are moving away from Asia or Russia, and Kenya is benefiting.
The usual trajectory is: first, trade representation, then physical presence, then investment, and we’re working hard to encourage that next step. What helps? A stable regulatory framework. That’s very important for German investors. Corruption is a concern, and we’ve received feedback that it remains a challenge here. Taxation, KRA and Kebs processes also come up frequently. But we’re in constructive dialogue with government on all this.
Last December, we held the German-Africa Business Summit in Nairobi. More than 900 people came from Germany, which is more than the previous summit in South Africa. That shows growing interest.
We’re also seeing strong signals from German car manufacturers interested in increasing value addition in Kenya. The business process outsourcing sector holds massive promise.
Agriculture is another major opportunity. I’m a huge fan of Kenyan avocados. Europe imports most avocados from Latin America, where water is a big issue. In Kenya, avocado farming doesn’t face the same environmental challenges, so there’s a competitive edge. Nuts, mangoes and pineapples all have potential. If value addition happens here before export, that boosts Kenya’s economy even more.
Some German companies are already active in food processing and preservation in Kenya. We’re definitely looking to scale this up in the coming years.
You mentioned challenges to do with taxation. What are investors complaining about?
It’s not the tax rate that concerns them, it’s the unpredictability of the regulatory environment. If new rules are introduced every two to four weeks, companies find it impossible to plan or manage operations.
For example, a company might be told by Kebs that their product is approved, then two weeks later, they’re told new checks or samples are needed. That kind of inconsistency causes delays and extra costs.
On the tax side, companies understand that the
government needs to raise revenue, but the approach is becoming increasingly
direct and hard to negotiate. This issue affects not just German firms but
other European companies, too.
The biggest concern is unpredictability. Businesses can adapt to many things — except for constant change. The good news is that we’re in active dialogue with the Kenyan government — not just as Germany but as the EU. We’ve drafted a list of concerns from European investors, and the government has agreed to work with us on it.
We understand there are challenges on both sides, and we’re ready to assist. We’re also engaging directly with KRA and other institutions. So I’m optimistic — but yes, there are still hurdles to overcome.
Since June 2024, Gen Z has emerged as a significant political force in Kenya. How would you analyse their unique political approach, the key issues they advocate for and the government’s response?
It’s a fascinating social phenomenon, and very much a generational one. My personal view is that it started with middle-class youth, many of whom felt their future was being taken away. They were university students without decent job prospects, unable to afford the kind of life their parents once had — an apartment, a small car, a trip to Mombasa once a year.
Combine that frustration with criticism of government practices, generational energy and the power of social media, and you get a decentralised, non-tribal, leaderless but very powerful movement.
This presents a huge opportunity for 2027. We now have a politically engaged generation that’s pushing for change, not just in policies but in political culture. For instance, many tell me that the tradition of handouts during campaigns should stop, or at least be treated cynically — take the handout, vote for someone else.
The point is voting is about the future, not transactional politics. If Kenya embraces this seriousness and ambition, it can be a major step forward, and an entry point for a new generation of political actors.
The EU is not positive about the implementation of the 2022 Electoral Observation report recommendations. Are you concerned that your country’s interests could be disrupted if the elections are not credible and peaceful?
We very much welcomed the establishment of the IEBC.
We’re now on track, although earlier would have been better. Still, we are
where we are, and the international community will engage with them. We’ll also
ask Berlin if there’s any way we can support the electoral process, from the
political side, civil society, media, and public awareness campaigns.
That said, after the 2022 elections, 11 observer missions made recommendations, and very few have been implemented. Time is running short to do so.
From Germany’s federal experience and your engagement with Kenyan counties, what key lessons are most applicable for Kenya’s devolution?
Even in Germany, money is always a complex issue. We
have 16 regions and a complicated system of financial equalisation, where
richer states like Bavaria and Hessen support poorer ones. There’s constant
debate, especially from regions that feel they’re giving more than they
receive.
Still, I believe pursuing decentralisation is worth it. I was in Kenya 20 years ago, before the 2010 constitutional reform. The progress since then, especially in county capitals and large towns, is striking. There’s been development in health, roads, education and agriculture support.
I recently spoke to people in Garissa, who said devolution has increased local accountability. Overall, it’s a very positive development. I’ll attend the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay in August because Germany and Kenya share a common political approach in this regard.
That said, counties now employ four times as many people as before 2010, so we do need to talk about efficiency, bureaucracy and tackling corruption, because wherever there’s money, there’s temptation. But all in all, devolution is a major success for Kenya.
Parting shot?
I have a lot of respect for the Kenyan press and media, including the Star and your work. Journalism in Kenya is a true asset. It’s great to have a free, critical media environment. I encourage you to keep playing that important role.
