Nairobi: The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has announced the commencement of a national recruitment program aimed at placing over 20,000 skilled and unskilled Kenyans in overseas jobs. The initiative, set to begin on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, will be launched at the Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind and is expected to cover all counties, starting with Machakos County and extending to Makueni, Kitui, Nakuru, Baringo, Nyandarua, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Turkana, Marsabit, among others, by year-end.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Labour and Social Protection, Dr. Alfred Mutua, revealed that the program aims to ensure each county gets an equal share of job opportunities, reflecting the skills available across 10 different overseas countries, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Iraq, Poland, the United States, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Germany.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Dr. Mutua emphasized t
hat the first phase of the program will create 20,000 job opportunities. He highlighted that available positions include housekeepers, housemaids, car wash attendants, cleaners, drivers, registered nurses, security officers, teachers, construction workers, casual laborers, hospitality industry workers, and engineers, among others.
Dr. Mutua stressed the importance of proper documentation for applicants, urging them to apply for certificates of good conduct and passports through the e-Citizen platform to facilitate fingerprint capturing by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Immigration Department.
Additionally, Dr. Mutua stated that the initiative is part of a broader government strategy to place at least one million Kenyans in overseas jobs annually, thereby boosting Kenya’s foreign exchange earnings. He mentioned that financial institutions would provide credit to agencies and job seekers to facilitate the recruitment process, including covering travel costs.
Currently, over three mi
llion Kenyans work abroad, making labor migration a significant economic contributor. Addressing concerns about mistreatment of Kenyans working overseas, Dr. Mutua reassured that such cases are handled individually and should not deter eligible Kenyans from pursuing these opportunities.
He also lamented that illegal activities by a few individuals abroad have complicated job acquisition efforts, tarnishing Kenya’s reputation and affecting opportunities for law-abiding citizens. Despite these challenges, Dr. Mutua urged eligible Kenyans to participate in the recruitment drive, expressing optimism about its potential to transform lives and enhance the country’s economic prospects.
In preparation for the recruitment exercise, he advised job seekers to bring snacks and drinking water to stay healthy during interviews. Dr. Mutua concluded by affirming that the recruitment drive underscores the government’s commitment to tackling unemployment while leveraging global labor markets to benefit Kenyan citizens.