Kenya's President William Ruto defends Germany migration deal over brain drain fears | DW News

Kenyan President William Ruto has defended the migration deal he signed on Friday with Germany, in the face of concerns that it could rob his country of needed skilled workers.

Speaking in an interview with DW during his visit, Ruto called the deal a win-win, saying that Kenya's demographics meant that it had hundreds of thousands of young people in need of employment opportunities.

Germany and Kenya signed an agreement on Friday in Berlin seeking to allow more skilled workers from the east African country to live and work in the biggest EU economy.

The labor and migration deal will also help to facilitate the repatriation of Kenyans who do not have the right to stay in Germany.

With an aging and shrinking workforce, experts say Germany needs about 400,000 skilled immigrants each year.

Ruto also defended his handling of the protests against his now abandoned tax increases earlier this year.

He said that much of the demonstrations that later escalated into riots calling for his resignation, were "fuelled by fake news."

At least 22 people were killed in the course of the months-long demonstrations that saw the parliament building also breached and ransacked.

Kenya's debt situation, as well as balancing relations with China and the West were also on the interview agenda.

00:00 Ruto on his visit to Germany
00:45 Ruto: 'Global challenges' make international cooperation vital
01:47 Kenya's balancing act between the West and China
04:51 Benefits of the Kenya-Germany migration deal
06:00 Ruto: Opportunities for young Kenyans vital
07:00 Ruto defends frequent travel
08:40 Ruto: Deals require mutual understanding
09:25 The sustainability of Kenya's debt situation
12:45 Ruto's handling of the finance bill protests
15:35 Ruto: Protests fuelled by fake news
17:05 Reforms of the African Union

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