Making this announcement in Kisumu, CS Mutua revealed that the ambitious program, which begins on Wednesday, November 20, will cover all 47 counties
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua on Friday, November 15, 2024, announced a nationwide recruitment drive aimed at providing Kenyans with opportunities to work abroad.
Making this announcement in Kisumu, CS Mutua revealed that the ambitious program, which begins on Wednesday, November 20, will cover all 47 counties and “build on the success of our recent recruitment drive for jobs in Qatar.”
The CS went on to report that during the first phase of the Qatar initiative, 3,247 Kenyans were selected out of the 8,000 available positions.
“I am pleased to report that nearly 1,500 of them have already received their offer letters and are finalizing their travel documentation. We expect all successful candidates to depart in the coming weeks to begin their careers,” he stated in part.
Labour CS Alfred Mutua speaking in Kisumu on November 15, 2024. /ALFRED MUTUA
“The Qatari company responsible for these positions will return soon to complete recruitment for the remaining 5,000 slots.”
To ensure this recruitment drive is accessible to all, Mutua announced that the government is working closely with the National Employment Authority (NEA), the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and licensed recruitment agencies. Recruitment activities will thus take place at county headquarters and TVET institutions.
To further streamline the process, the CS revealed that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will be on-site to facilitate fingerprinting for certificates of good conduct, while immigration officials will assist with preliminary passport applications.
“I encourage all job seekers to prepare by bringing their ID cards and relevant qualification documents. It is also important to apply for certificates of good conduct on the eCitizen platform and ensure that passport application requirements are completed in advance.
“This initiative reflects our government’s commitment, under the leadership of H.E. President Dr William Ruto, to creating employment opportunities and enhancing labour mobility. I believe this recruitment drive will not only change lives but also position Kenyans as competitive professionals in the global job market,” he added.
Together with a dedicated team of recruitment agencies, Mutua promised that he would be visiting every county to ensure as many Kenyans as possible benefit from this initiative.
He remarked that this program is a significant step towards empowering Kenyans and boosting their livelihoods through meaningful employment opportunities abroad.
The recruitment drive is in line with the government’s plan to send one million Kenyan workers abroad every year as part of Kenya Kwanza’s labour export program.
This new development comes after the government announced Qatar job opportunities that attracted a multitude of Kenyans. Interviews for the jobs took place from October 25 to October 27, 2024, at the Kabete National Polytechnic.Â
Among the job opportunities advertised by the ministry were in the fields of hospitality and medicine. Professionals such as nurses, demi chefs, chef de partie, kitchen helpers, bar backs, runners, waitresses, stewarding supervisors, and kids’ attendants are actively being sought after.
Kenyans were also urged to apply for building and construction positions such as hotel maintenance technicians, vehicle drivers, rigger signalmen, construction helpers, cleaners, storekeepers, electricians, plumbers, masons, tile layers, steel fixers, painters and welders.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and his Qatar counterpart Saeed Samikh Al-Marri at Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi on October 6, 2024. /ALFRED MUTUA