Werner Enterprises, a major American freight carrier headquartered in Nebraska, has flatly denied claims that it is recruiting Kenyan truck drivers to work in the United States.

The clarification came on Wednesday, through a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The company stated, “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 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.

The rebuttal followed mounting criticism in the U.S., especially in Nebraska, where concerns had been raised online about foreigners taking over trucking jobs after a recent labour agreement between Kenya and Nebraska was signed.

Speculation had intensified after Nebraska’s Secretary of State, Bob Evnen, travelled to Nairobi on Thursday last week.

During his visit, he signed a Labour Mobility and Diaspora Support Memorandum of Understanding with the PS State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, in a ceremony that President William Ruto presided over.

The deal was described as an effort to establish structured employment pathways for Kenyans in industries such as healthcare and transport.

Speaking at the time, Evnen remarked, “We have commercial truck drivers already who are being trained, partially in Kenya, and then they complete their training in Nebraska.”

Although Evnen’s comments sparked suggestions that U.S. companies would soon bring in Kenyan truckers, no firm has officially confirmed involvement.

Social media chatter nonetheless drew a link to Werner, especially because a Kenyan delegation visited Nebraska earlier this year and stopped by Werner’s headquarters in Omaha.

Despite the visit, no announcement was made regarding driver recruitment, leaving the controversy to brew online until Werner’s categorical denial this week.

The row highlights the sensitivity surrounding foreign labour in America’s trucking sector, even as governments pursue new international partnerships designed to expand employment opportunities for Kenyans abroad.