Young Kenyans Earning Up to Sh680,000 on Danish Farms

A growing number of young Kenyans are taking up internships on farms in Denmark, gaining technical skills and earning salaries well above Kenyan standards.

Merit Mukami, 23, works on a pig production farm in Sønderborg, where she carries out tasks usually reserved for veterinary professionals in Kenya. “I was taught pregnancy diagnosis and also learned data analysis, monitoring, and record keeping,” she says. 

She has experience with mechanised feeding systems and digital monitoring, though adapting to Denmark’s cold winters and learning Danish has been challenging. Her monthly salary ranges from Sh160,000 to Sh260,000, providing a comfortable lifestyle in rural areas where living costs are lower than in Copenhagen.

Ezra Kipkurui Bii, 26, has spent a year on a pig farm in Hobro. He highlights the strict biosecurity measures and data-driven management, managing thousands of pigs efficiently. While he does not reveal his earnings, he notes they are significantly higher than in Kenya. He aims to return home to introduce data-driven farming methods to boost local productivity.

In the dairy sector, Charles Wairagu, 26, operates automated milking systems in Østervrå and monitors herd health using sensor technology. “Cows wear collars that detect when they are in heat and send signals to the system, which makes insemination planning easier,” he explains. His starting salary is Sh240,000 per month, increasing with experience, though housing costs remain a concern.

Peter David Maina, 25, manages a herd of 1,800 animals in Gedsted, overseeing milk production and biogas systems that convert waste into electricity. He notes that interns are trusted to manage sections independently and solve problems. Skilled worker contracts offer up to Sh680,000 per month, making Denmark a place where experience and reliability can lead to long-term opportunities.