Mombasa: Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Alfred Mutua, has announced a comprehensive plan to utilize the Youth and Uwezo Fund to facilitate travel expenses for youth who secured job opportunities abroad. He said the move aims to address the financial barriers faced by Kenyan youth seeking employment abroad by providing financial assistance to offset pre-travel expenses such as airfare, visas, training, and agent fees.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking at the National Industry Training Authority (NITA) in Mombasa during the official launch of the Saudi Model House, the CS highlighted that once employed and receiving a salary, the beneficiaries will repay the loan gradually through a percentage-based repayment plan to ensure that the funds are revolving, enabling more youth to access similar opportunities in the future. This aligns with the government’s effort to reduce unemployment through programs like Kazi Majuu, which has already facilitated job placements in countries such as Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.
The CS explained the purpose of the model house set up for young women preparing to work as house help in Saudi Arabia. By offering hands-on experience with modern facilities and appliances, the model house helps bridge the cultural and technical gaps, enhancing the employability and confidence of these individuals as they prepare to work in foreign environments.
However, the CS urged Kenyans seeking jobs abroad to adopt a more positive and cooperative approach, cautioning against their entitlement attitude and confrontational behavior towards those in authority. He noted that this mindset hinders personal growth and affects the country’s reputation abroad. The CS emphasized the need to recognize that success in both local and international job markets requires a shift from traditional attitudes.
Mutua highlighted that in some instances, foreign employers hire less qualified candidates from other countries than Kenyans due to concerns about attitude. ‘By fostering a culture of respect and adaptability, Kenyans can enhance their employability and contribute more effectively to the global workforce,’ the CS noted.
He also emphasized the need to expedite the deployment of Kenyan employees abroad, which is currently taking at least six weeks. To address this challenge, the CS urged NITA to streamline its training processes, proposing that the three-week training period be condensed to just one week, allowing for the simultaneous processing of necessary documents. This integrated approach aims to ensure that Kenyan workers can be deployed to their required destinations within two weeks, significantly reducing the overall timeframe.