STRENGTHENING GLOBAL TIES: NANDI COUNTY DEEPENS PARTNERSHIP WITH GERMANY
During a recent visit to Munich, Germany, a delegation from Nandi County, engaged in high-level discussions and development-focused meetings aimed at fostering strategic partnerships across governance, health, vocational training, and labour mobility. The visit resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the city of Schwabmünchen, setting the stage for meaningful collaborations expected to benefit key sectors in the county.
Twinning Cities for Mutual Growth
A central highlight of the visit was the agreement to twin Schwabmünchen with Kapsabet Municipality. The partnership is designed to encourage the exchange of knowledge, technology, and skills between the two municipalities. The agreement also opens doors for material and technical support to enhance service delivery in Kapsabet.
“We are looking to build not just administrative links, but a long-term exchange of expertise and resources that will elevate the standards in our municipalities,” said one of the lead representatives from Nandi County.
Boosting Emergency and Health Services
Plans are underway for the Schwabmünchen Fire Brigade to provide training and equipment support to Nandi’s disaster management teams. The goal is to strengthen local emergency response systems and preparedness through shared expertise and technical assistance.
In the health sector, the partnership with Wertach Hospital introduces a medical exchange program with Kapsabet County Referral Hospital. Selected medical personnel from Nandi will train and serve in Germany, while German staff will visit Kapsabet to share knowledge and practices. Additionally, this partnership will enable the transfer of medical equipment and introduce modern healthcare technologies to the county.
Labour Mobility: Creating New Opportunities for Youth
The delegation also advanced discussions related to the Kenya-Germany bilateral labour mobility agreement. Meetings with German stakeholders focused on developing practical pathways that would allow Kenyan youth—including those from Nandi—to pursue employment and training opportunities in Germany under structured and secure conditions.
These efforts were strongly supported by the Kenyan diaspora, who shared critical insights on navigating the German labour market and potential areas for quick implementation.
High-Level Engagements and Skills Development
While in Germany, the Nandi County team met with senior officials including Mr. Tobias Gotthardt, Vice Minister for the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Regional Development; Mr. Martin Sailer, Head of County Authority; and mayors Mr. Lorenz Müller (Schwabmünchen) and Mr. Michael Wörle (Gersthofen). They also engaged with the leadership of VBW—the Bavarian Industry Association—opening dialogue with potential investors and collaborators.
A visit to LW School and Vocational Centre provided a firsthand look at Germany’s industry-aligned vocational training approach. This inspired plans for collaboration with Kenyan TVET institutions, with the goal of adopting a similar hands-on model to enhance the quality of technical training back home.
Engaging the Diaspora: A Shared Vision
The mission concluded with a constructive meeting with members of the Kenyan diaspora in Bavaria. Their perspectives helped clarify realistic goals and strengthen the county’s approach to international partnerships. Their support will be vital as Nandi moves to implement quick wins and longer-term initiatives emerging from this visit.
Through these engagements, Nandi County continues to position itself as a proactive and globally connected region, leveraging international relationships to drive local development and open new frontiers for its people.