Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has said that 300 Kenyan workers will leave for Qatar this week to take up various employment opportunities.
Mutua made the announcement on Wednesday, December 12, 2024, via X as he bid farewell to the first group of workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
“Earlier this evening at JKIA, Nairobi, bidding farewell to the first group of Kenyan workers heading to Qatar. These trailblazers embark on a journey to transform their lives, acquire valuable skills, and contribute to Kenya’s development through remittance inflows and the expertise they bring upon their return,” Mutua stated.
He explained that 30 workers had already left on Wednesday, with the remaining 270 scheduled to depart by the weekend.
“This milestone underscores the continuous success of our government’s efforts to create safe, meaningful, and transformative labour opportunities locally and abroad,” he added.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, also saw off the workers departing for Qatar during the closing ceremony of the Jamhuri National Job Fair. The event took place at the COMESA grounds of the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi.
During the occasion, Kindiki also unveiled two key initiatives: the Global Labour Market Strategy and the National Strategy on Skills for Labour Mobility.
“Honoured to officially close the Jamhuri National Job Fair and launch the Global Labour Market Strategy and the National Strategy on skills for labour mobility at the COMESA Grounds, KICC, Nairobi and flagged off the cohort of Kenyan workers heading to Qatar,” Kindiki remarked.
Mutua announces jobs abroad
The announcement builds upon a previous statement made by the CS on November 27, 2024, revealing that 5,931 Kenyans had secured international job placements through a government-led recruitment initiative. The initiative, launched recently, is aimed at connecting skilled Kenyan workers with employment opportunities overseas.
“I am pleased to announce that 5,931 Kenyans have secured job opportunities abroad since the launch of the government’s national recruitment exercise just ten days ago. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to linking skilled Kenyans with overseas employment opportunities as we address the pressing issue of unemployment in our country,” the CS stated.
The CS also disclosed that the recruitment process would take a temporary break to allow for preparations for the Jamhuri Day celebrations. During this time, the government will focus on facilitating the issuance of passports and certificates of good conduct for the 5,931 successful candidates.
“The recruitment drive will take a brief pause to accommodate preparations for the upcoming Jamhuri Day celebrations. During this pause, we will focus on processing the 5,931 job offers by facilitating the issuance of passports and certificates of good conduct for successful applicants,” he noted.
Adding:
“I want to assure all successful applicants that they will be contacted by Wednesday next week, and a new schedule for the exercise will be announced after Jamhuri Day.”
