Kisumu: Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Alfred Mutua announced that the government has secured over 2,000 foreign job opportunities targeting job seekers from Kisumu, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Homabay, and Siaya counties. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day recruitment exercise at the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) in Kisumu, held alongside the Nyanza International Investment Conference, the CS urged aspiring candidates from Nyanza counties to participate in the overseas job opportunities recruitment drive.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Mutua highlighted that the program offers an opportunity for unemployed Kenyans to secure better-paying jobs abroad, with positions available for both skilled and unskilled workers. The available jobs are in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Poland, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Germany. Licensed recruitment agencies are on site to recruit candidates for various sectors, including ICT, construction, hospitality, healthcare, transport, domestic work, and nursing.
Dr. Mutua mentioned that some successful candidates could begin their employment abroad before or during the Ramadhan season. He noted that Saudi Arabia has specifically offered over 300 slots for housemaid positions to be filled by the end of February. All successful candidates will undergo special pre-departure training and orientation programs before relocating. This training, implemented by NITA, aims to provide education on foreign cultures and behavioural training to migrant workers.
The CS expressed concerns regarding the reputation of Kenyans working abroad, citing their confrontational nature and sense of entitlement as hurdles in securing more foreign jobs. He stated that foreign employers view Kenyan workers as smart, hardworking, and organized but often with a bad attitude. To address this, the pre-departure training will include attitude adjustment programs to mitigate perceptions of arrogance and confrontational behaviour among Kenyan workers.
Dr. Mutua also emphasized that recruitment agencies are directed to cap recruitment fees at Sh50,000 to make the program affordable. Some positions may have no recruitment fees, while others may require applicants to cover expenses such as medical test processing and air tickets if not provided by the hiring countries.
The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to creating structured and legal pathways for Kenyans seeking employment overseas. CS Mutua clarified that the suspension of the national job recruitment program on November 27, 2024, remains in effect to eliminate cartels that had infiltrated the process. The public will be informed of any new developments in due course. He explained that the postponement aims to address issues within the industry, such as agencies overcharging applicants up to Sh600,000, which led to the program’s temporary halt.