Kenya flags off first cohort of workers to Qatar

The government has introduced several strategies to create jobs locally, expand access to online work opportunities, and establish an overseas workforce under its labor mobility program.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the first cohort of Kenyan workers to Qatar on Wednesday at KICC, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki outlined three key strategies as Kazi kwa Ground (Jobs on the Ground), Kazi Majuu (Jobs Abroad), and Kazi Mtandaoni (Online Jobs).

"To achieve this, the government recognises the need to structure training programs to meet local demand for skilled and semi-skilled professionals, as well as the international labor market through labor mobility," said Kindiki.

The government is also leveraging the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework to

certify skilled Kenyans without formal training.

Over 6,000 workers have already been certified, and 6,170 coxswains trained under this program in the past two years.

The DP highlighted additional efforts by the Kenya Kwanza administration, including the recruitment and deployment of 76,000 teachers and thousands of youths absorbed into security agencies.

Moreover, 272 ICT hubs have been established nationwide to create platforms for digital jobs.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua diverged details about the workers heading to Qatar.

"The first batch, nearly 300 young men and women, will travel to Qatar today. I'll be escorting them to the airport at 1 p.m.," he said.

He also noted ongoing interviews for boda boda riders, with opportunities in Dubai offering salaries of up to Sh100,000 per month.

Additionally, the government has recruited 200 police officers for employment in Qatar.

Mutua added that successful candidates from the first phase of the Qatar recruitment program will begin traveling daily or on a rolling basis.