Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has announced that more than 100,000 Kenyans have secured jobs abroad through government-backed programs.
In a statement following a radio interview on Monday, November 18, Mwaura revealed that a total of 105,367 Kenyans have benefited from employment opportunities in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
He also disclosed that the government is finalizing bilateral negotiations to expand the labor export market to new destinations.
“We are in advanced stages of negotiations with Russia, Poland, and Jordan to open more doors of opportunities for Kenyans. These efforts aim to grow our labor export market beyond traditional destinations,” he stated.
Mwaura added that a new recruitment drive for these opportunities will run from November 18 to December 6, 2024, across all counties.
“We encourage Kenyans to seize these opportunities, which not only provide employment but also foster skills and technology transfer back to Kenya,” he noted.
This update follows an announcement by Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua regarding a nationwide recruitment exercise for Kenyans seeking jobs abroad.
In a statement on Friday, November 15, Mutua said the recruitment program, set to begin on Wednesday, November 20, will take place across all 47 counties.
“To ensure accessibility, we are collaborating with the National Employment Authority (NEA), National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and licensed recruitment agencies,” Mutua explained.
Recruitment will occur at county headquarters and TVET institutions, with additional support from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for fingerprinting services and immigration officials for passport applications.
Interested job seekers are advised to bring their ID cards and qualification documents to participate in the recruitment drive.
Mwaura noted that the Affordable Housing Project is not only geared towards decent and affordable houses to Kenyans but has also created over 160,000 job opportunities for Kenyan youth.
“Currently, there are 124,000 housing units at various stages of construction in 75 sites across 37 counties. Further, over 547,000 Kenyans have registered on the Boma Yangu platform,” he said.
Speaking of Climate WorX Mtaani, Mwaura reiterated that the initiative seeks to provide a source of employment to 200,000 Kenyans across the country with every county having at least 1,500 beneficiaries.
He noted that the initiative has been rolled out in Nairobi before it kicks off progressively to the counties.
Mwaura also stated that the government has operationalised 274 digital hubs and is collaborating with the private sector to create 1450 other hubs in every ward.
“Over 490,000 Kenyans have been equipped with digital skills through the Jitume program, with another 149,000 connected to online job opportunities,” he said.
Mwaura, who was giving a detailed update on the government, said the free visa entry to Kenya has also given a boost to the service industry, with the country expecting 2.5 million visitors in 2024 up from 1.4 million visitors in 2022.
“The government has also repositioned Kenya as a premier Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination. This has further empowered the service industry, creating more opportunities for Kenyans,” Mwaura said.
