Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has revealed that 23 Kenyans have been banned from Qatar despite securing jobs in the Gulf nation.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 11, during the closing ceremony of the Jamhuri National Job Fair at KICC, Nairobi, Mutua explained that the job seekers were blacklisted due to previous criminal offenses committed in Qatar.
The CS noted that the individuals, who had been hired as drivers, could not travel to Qatar for their new jobs because the country had prohibited their entry.
“As we hire these people, Qatar, in the list they gave us of some of the people that were hired, flagged 23 individuals because they went to Qatar before and broke the law. Whatever you do follows you,” Mutua remarked.
“They are drivers, and we have to tell them sorry because they cannot travel as they are not wanted there,” he added.
On a positive note, the CS announced that nearly 300 Kenyans were ready to travel to Qatar after their documents were processed during the recent recruitment drive. He assured that the processing of documents for others who secured jobs in Qatar would continue in phases.
Mutua also addressed critics of the government’s recruitment initiative, asserting that the overseas jobs were legitimate.
“The naysayers claiming it’s not possible, I want to tell them it is possible. Let those who want to go do so. You shut your mouth and stay with your money and job because those complaining are already employed,” Mutua stated.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who attended the event at KICC, encouraged Kenyans to support the initiative, emphasizing its importance for unemployed youths.
“Let us not oppose an initiative that helps Kenyans who don’t have work and want to take up opportunities abroad. If you have work, thank God. There’s someone who doesn’t,” Kindiki remarked.
