Alfred Mutua gives status of recruitment of 8K skilled workers in Qatar
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua has issued a status on the recruitment of 8,000 skilled workers in Qatar since December 2024.
Speaking when he appeared before the Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers, chaired by Haika Mizighi on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Mutua stated that the recruitment is part of an ongoing bilateral labour agreement between the two countries.
You might also like
“Today, I appeared before the Haika Mizighi-led National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers to provide a comprehensive update on the recent recruitment and deployment of Kenyan workers to the State of Qatar.
“I appreciated the opportunity to shed light on the government’s efforts to facilitate safe, ethical, and orderly labour migration, particularly in light of the recent bilateral cooperation with Qatar, which led to the recruitment of 8,000 skilled Kenyan workers,” he said.
He revealed that the recruitment process gained momentum following a successful job fair held in December 2024, which attracted over 6,000 job seekers.
Out of these, 300 candidates were initially flagged off to Qatar. Since then, additional recruitment drives have been held across six counties, leading to hundreds of provisional job offers and further deployments.
Mutua reaffirmed the government’s focus on protecting the rights and welfare of migrant workers, ensuring that employment opportunities abroad meet ethical and safety standards.
Challenges
Further, Mutua highlighted challenges faced by Kenyans as they seek these jobs, citing coordination with recruitment agencies and destination employers to address them.
“I informed the Committee that while this process has brought new hope to many Kenyan families, it has not been without challenges. These include delays in documentation, financial constraints faced by job seekers, failed medical tests, and last-minute withdrawals. However, we are addressing these gaps through enhanced coordination with recruitment agencies and destination country employers,” he stated.
Mutua outlined the robust vetting and oversight mechanisms now in place to regulate labour migration.
“A multi-agency Vetting Committee, chaired by the Ministry, has so far vetted over 1,100 agencies, with 583 currently holding valid licenses. In addition, we have intensified monitoring through snap inspections, blacklisting of rogue agencies, and the operationalisation of Labour Migration Desks at JKIA and MIA to prevent exploitation and trafficking.”
