The recent agreement between Nebraska and Kenya, which aims to address the purported shortage of truck drivers in the United States, has sparked a wave of controversy.
The deal, signed by Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen and Kenya's Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu, is designed to provide a legal pathway for Kenyans seeking employment opportunities in the U.S..
"We began with labor mobility with commercial driver's license; these are skilled truck driving positions. We have a need for that in the United States, we have the need for that in Nebraska, and we have training available in Nebraska," Evnen stated during the Kenya-Nebraska Beef Trade and Investment Conference, as reported by RedState.
However, the agreement has been met with significant criticism, particularly due to Kenya's high road fatality rate, which stands at 28.2 per 100k, nearly double the global average. Critics argue that this move could potentially turn the United States into one of the most dangerous driving environments globally. The controversy is further fueled by the fact that the trucking industry has been under scrutiny following a fatal accident in Florida caused by an illegal U-turn by an unauthorized truck crew.
The issue of illegal truck drivers in the US has been a topic of concern, with numerous drivers being ordered "out of service" due to failing basic English and sign proficiency tests. This situation was brought to light by President Trump's Executive Order titled Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America's Truck Drivers.
The proposal to bring in Kenyan drivers to address a perceived shortage that many drivers argue doesn't exist has also raised eyebrows. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy seems to echo this sentiment, criticizing the previous administration for handing work permits and commercial driver's licenses to non-citizens, thereby flooding the market and undercutting American truckers.
This practice, he argues, is a form of labor dumping that has negatively impacted hundreds of thousands of American workers.
The controversy surrounding the agreement was further exacerbated by rumors that Werner Enterprises, Nebraska's largest employer of truckers, was planning to hire Kenyan drivers. The company has vehemently denied these rumors, but the damage was done.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) expressed outrage at the agreement, with President Todd Spencer stating that it was merely an attempt to import cheap labor based on the unfounded claim of a driver shortage.
In response to the backlash, Nebraska Secretary of State Evnen clarified that the memorandum of understanding with Kenya was stated in general terms and did not specifically mention truck drivers. He emphasized that the agreement requires full compliance with all Nebraska and federal laws, including the president's executive order on commercial driver's license requirements and US immigration law.
Despite the controversy, the Kenyan government seems to view the agreement as part of a broader strategy to address youth unemployment through international labor mobility agreements. Beyond trucking, they are considering extending their Mkulima Majuu agricultural program to Nebraska, potentially creating jobs for Kenyan youth with farming expertise.
However, this story appears to be a case of a minor agreement being blown out of proportion for political purposes in Kenya. When it reached Nebraska media, it coincided with hot-button issues like illegal and foreign truckers and labor dumping, creating a firestorm of controversy.
It serves as a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls of displacing Americans from jobs, a lesson that other states and countries would do well to heed.
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