The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has announced the commencement of a National recruitment program for jobseekers for over 20,000 skilled and unskilled Kenyans.
The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Labour and Social Protection Dr. Alfred Mutua said that the program, which officially begins on Wednesday November 20, 2024 will be launched at the Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind and is expected to cover all counties starting with Machakos County, then to the counties of Makueni, Kitui, Nakuru, Baringo, Nyandarua, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Turkana, Marsabit among others before the end of the year.
“The idea is that every County gets an equal number, depending on the type of skills that are available in over 10 different overseas countries including Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Iraq, Poland, the United States, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Germany among others,” he highlighted.
The CS who was speaking on Monday at his office in Nairobi during a press conference that will precede his nationwide recruitment tours revealed that the first phase of the program will offer 20,000 jobs.
According to Dr. Mutua the available jobs that require a huge number of workers include housekeepers, housemaids, car wash attendants, cleaners, drivers, registered nurses, security officers, teachers, construction workers, casual laborers, hospitality industry workers and engineers among others.
Further, he emphasized the importance of proper documentation for applicants, urging those attending interviews to ensure they have applied for certificates of good conduct and passports via the e-Citizen platform.
“Applicants must complete these requirements to facilitate the capturing of fingerprints by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Immigration Department,” reiterated the CS.
Additionally, Dr. Mutua noted that the initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to place at least one million Kenyans in overseas jobs annually, a significant boost to Kenya’s foreign exchange earnings.
“Financial institutions will give credit to agencies to ensure agents have money. The financial institutions can also give money to the jobseeker in order to complement the government and the employing company who will provide tickets,” he posited.
The CS disclosed that currently, over three million Kenyans work abroad, making labour migration a key contributor as an economic mover.
On the other hand, while addressing concerns about mistreatment of Kenyans working abroad, Dr. Mutua reassured the public that such cases are addressed individually and should not undermine efforts to create employment opportunities.
“All Kenyans working abroad are protected by international and local laws. Isolated incidents of mistreatment should not discourage eligible Kenyans from seizing these opportunities,” he reaffirmed.
Meanwhile, the CS lamented that the actions of a few individuals engaging in illegal activities abroad have complicated efforts to secure jobs in some countries since such behavior tarnishes the reputation of the nation and jeopardizes opportunities for law-abiding Kenyans.
Nevertheless, Dr. Mutua urged eligible Kenyans to turn up for the exercise, expressing optimism about the program’s potential to transform lives and enhance Kenya’s economic prospects.
In addition, he also encouraged job seekers to come prepared advising them to carry snacks and drinking water during the exercise in order to remain healthy for the interview.
“The national recruitment drive underscores the government’s commitment to addressing unemployment while leveraging global labour markets to provide opportunities for Kenyan citizens,” said the CS.
By Sharon Atieno
