Hundreds of youth turned up at the Nyeri National Polytechnic on Monday to try out their luck in securing employment opportunities in the construction industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The vacancies were announced on Monday last week by the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Muoria.
In a letter addressed to the Polytechnic’s principal, the PS asked the polytechnic to host the function and also mobilise youth from the surrounding community to turn up for the exercise.
The local recruitment entity for the exercise is Bluewave International Services Limited, an accredited private agency duly registered under the National Employment Authority (NEA). The agency was contracted by Right Force Manpower Services L.L.C. of the United Arab Emirates, which is seeking to hire a total of 5,000 people to work as steel fixers, masons, carpenters, civil helpers, scaffolders, waterproofing technicians, electricians, plumbers, and AC duct men.
Speaking to KNA on the sidelines of the recruitment exercise, Managing Director of Blue Wave International, Amos Mbugua said that the recruitment exercise will focus on the recruit’s ability to demonstrate their knowledge of the construction industry. Additionally, Mbugua said that the age limit had been set at between 22-25 years, and the recruits are expected to be medically fit and in possession of all the required professional certificates, including a clearance from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“The assessment is very easy. We are not checking so much on the academic papers; we are keen on the technical capability of the recruits,” said Mbugua.
From the Central region, Mbugua said they will move to the Rift Valley region for a similar exercise. He said that successful candidates will be expected to work in any of the six emirates of the UAE on a two-year renewable contract. Workers will be entitled to free transport, a food allowance, medical cover, and one day off every week. Salaries will range from 900 UAD (equivalent to Sh 35,000) to 1,500 UAD (or Sh 52,000).
For those who will not be able to afford the air tickets, arrangements are being made to ensure that they can get funds from the Youth Enterprise Fund and later repay the money once they settle down in the UAE. Successful candidates will be issued with their letters and given a few days in order to process all their travel requirements prior to flying out of the country.
Twenty-two-year-old Kelvin Muchoki, one of the young people who had turned up for the recruitment, expressed optimism in securing a job opportunity. He also challenged his contemporaries to turn up for such opportunities and try their luck.
His sentiments were echoed by Purity Wanjiku, a Civil Engineering graduate from Nyandarua County. Wanjiku said that despite experiencing challenges in security employment in the country, she remained hopeful that she will be among those selected to work in the UAE.
“Getting a job in Kenya is very hard at the moment, and that is why I came out today to try my luck. I am looking forward to any job opportunity that will allow me to gain work experience in my area of training, ”she stated.
By Wangari Mwangi and Samuel Maina
