Werner Enterprises Rejects Claims of Hiring Kenyan Truck Drivers

Werner Enterprises has publicly denied any involvement in recruiting Kenyan truck drivers for employment in the United States, following claims linking the company to a new labour agreement between Kenya and the State of Nebraska.

In a statement released on 10 September via its official X account, formerly Twitter, the Nebraska-based freight company said it had not entered into any discussions or agreements related to hiring drivers from Kenya. 

“Werner has not signed or discussed any agreement for the recruitment of Kenyan truck drivers to the United States,” the company said, calling the circulating claims “just false.”

The company’s response follows public concern in Nebraska over potential impacts on local employment in the trucking sector. These concerns intensified after a Kenyan delegation visited Omaha in 2024, where they held meetings with Nebraska officials and toured Werner’s headquarters. While some interpreted the visit as part of recruitment efforts, no official employment arrangements were announced.

The speculation centres on a Labour Mobility and Diaspora Support Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 4 September in Nairobi. The agreement was formalised by Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen and Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, and was witnessed by President William Ruto. 

It aims to create legal employment pathways for Kenyan workers in key US sectors experiencing labour shortages, including healthcare and transportation. During the Nairobi ceremony, Evnen said, “We have commercial truck drivers already who are being trained, partially in Kenya, and then they complete their training in Nebraska.”

While he did not name any specific companies, his remarks were widely shared online and interpreted as referring to Werner, prompting demands for clarity from the public. To date, no US-based company has confirmed participation in the agreement. Werner’s statement appears intended to distance the company from ongoing political discussions about immigration and job security in the region.

The MoU reflects a strategic effort to address workforce shortages in the United States, particularly in sectors like long-haul trucking and elder care. In this context, Kenya has been identified as a potential partner, given its English-speaking workforce and experience in labour migration.

Principal Secretary Njogu said the agreement would allow Kenyan professionals to support critical sectors in Nebraska while strengthening bilateral ties. She noted that the programme is part of a broader plan to promote safe and structured migration opportunities. Evnen also indicated that the partnership could expand to other sectors. 

“We have a commission now, a committee that has established a process under which we can explore further labour mobility fields... including medical and nursing professions,” he said.