Nebraska Government, Werner deny rumors of deal with Kenya to bring in foreign drivers

The Government of Nebraska and Werner Enterprises are denying rumors that they intended to participate in a deal with Kenya to bring in foreign drivers. 

Secretary of State Bob Evnen returned to Nebraska on Wednesday, September 10th after a trip to Kenya that ended in the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum was signed on September 2nd. 

According to 1011 News, The trip sparked rumors that the state of Nebraska intended to bring in foreign truck drivers from Kenya to alleviate the alleged driver shortage. Evnen’s officer states that the trip was focused primarily on the promotion of Nebraska’s corn, ethanol, dried distillers grains and irrigation technologies.

“Kenya has one of the strongest economies in East Africa and is a trade gateway into the region,” Evnen said in a press release. “This trade mission continued to grow and solidify Nebraska’s trade relationship with Kenya.”

The memorandum between Kenya and the State of Nebraska is not legally binding, but does outline intentions for the cooperation between the two. One of these intentions include llegal, temporary migration for “vocational education and training” in Nebraska. The agreement also encourages “workforce upskilling training” and “technical and vocational training” between the two states. However, trucking is not specifically mentioned. 

“The MOU is nonbinding, was not coordinated in advance by the Secretary of State with either the Governor or any other state agency and does not represent the policy of the government of the State of Nebraska,” the press release read. “To be clear, the Secretary of State has no authority over driver licensure and is not part of the consultative process for policy development in that area.”

Last year, a group of Kenyan delegates traveled to Nebraska and toured trucking facilities, including Werner. The aim of that trip was to connect trucking companies with wits to fill open driving positions with laborers from Kenya. At that time, Evnen estimated that approximately 500 people from Kenya would move to Nebraska to join the workforce, but no formal agreement was made. 

With the recent trip, rumors connecting the 2025 Kenyan trip to the 2024 promises have been circling the internet. Werner has since addressed those rumors, by posting the following statement to Facebook: “Werner Enterprises wishes to clarify that we are not involved in any agreements or discussions regarding the recruitment of Kenyan truck drivers to the United States. Any claims suggesting otherwise are just false.”

“Werner is grateful for Governor Pillen’s leadership to grow Nebraska, pursue foreign trade opportunities, and connect Nebraskans to great American jobs,” the CEO of Werner Enterprises, Derek Leathers, added in a press release.