Kericho: Over 900 male recruits from Kericho County have successfully secured employment in the building and construction industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a successful two-day recruitment exercise held at the Kericho Township Technical and Vocational College (KERITTVC). This marks a significant milestone in the government's initiative to provide overseas employment opportunities for skilled youth. According to Kenya News Agency, the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training collaborated with four recruitment agencies-Blue Wave International Services Limited, Raytoria, Al Suwedi International Recruitment Agency Limited, and Loivin recruitment. These agencies, registered under the National Employment Authority (NEA), identified the specific skills required in the UAE, where the youths are set to work. Principal Shadrack Tonui of KERITTVC highlighted that over 1,000 recruits with skills in various trades, including carpentry, masonry, electrical engineering, and plum bing, participated in the interviews, with 900 qualifying for jobs in the UAE. Tonui emphasized the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in equipping youth with skills that enhance their employability both locally and internationally. The recruitment agencies conducted rigorous oral and practical interviews to assess the technical competencies of the candidates. Principal Tonui expressed hope that the recruits would positively represent Kenya in the UAE, stating, "A good number of youths actually qualified because they were already practicing their skills." Successful candidates, aged between 22 to 45 years, are expected to work in any of the six emirates in the UAE on a two-year renewable contract. Salaries will range from Sh 35,000 (900 Arab Emirates Dirhams) to Sh 105,000 (3,000 Arab Emirates Dirhams). Candidates must be medically fit and possess all necessary professional certificates, including clearance from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and a v alid passport. Kericho County deputy speaker Eric Bett praised the initiative, advocating for more recruitment exercises to provide employment opportunities for skilled but unemployed youths in the county. He noted that this initiative would also increase remittances, which could be invested back home. Board Chairman of KERITTVC, Mr. Reuben Langat, reiterated the critical role of TVET centers in producing a skilled workforce, highlighting the growing demand for such skills in developing countries. He mentioned potential financial assistance for recruits unable to afford airfare through the Youth Enterprise Fund, with repayment plans once they commence employment in the UAE. Among the successful recruits, twenty-eight-year-old Kiptoo Ngeno expressed gratitude after securing a carpentry job in Dubai. Despite financial challenges preventing him from pursuing university education, Ngeno acquired practical skills through TVET, which now open doors to international employment. Last year, Labour and Social Prote ction CS, Dr. Alfred Mutua, announced the government's objective to secure overseas employment for at least 10,000 Kenyans in the UAE's construction industry, commencing this year.