State to help Kenyans acquire travel documents to work abroad

Youths during Meru Diaspora job fair at Kinoru stadium. [File, Standard]

The Government has assured Kenyans who qualify for jobs abroad of support in processing the necessary clearance and travel documents.

Labor Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said the ministry has designed a one-stop recruitment platform where Kenyans who pass interviews to work abroad will gain access to required paperwork.

DR Mutua revealed that this will include processing of travel documents, certificate of good conduct as well as verification of academic and professional certificates.

“It doesn’t matter whether you have a Kenya passport or not. As Government we have developed an elaborate plan to make sure Kenyans being recruited to work overseas are processed with speed and efficiency," he said.

Speaking at the Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind where he launched the national job recruitment programme. Mutua said: "The moment you pass the job interview, it is upon the Government to arrange how you will fly out of the country.”

The CS pointed out that the Ministry of Labor is implementing a directive by President William Ruto to enable Kenyans acquire travel documents.

“President William Ruto has ordered that even Kenyans who do not hold passports and have qualified for employment must be assisted to process the same. It cannot be that someone will miss an employment opportunity on account of lacking a passport,” he said.

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Mutua said those recruited will undergo another round of verification for document authenticity.

“The coming week will be extremely busy for those recruited. The recruits will be called upon to undergo medical tests, verification of documents including academic certificates after which they will now sign the contracts with the various agencies,” said the CS.

He announced that the Government has engaged commercial banks to advance financial facilitation to those who qualify for employment but do not have ready cash for procuring the required certification or tests.

“Because some of these requirements cost between Sh20,000 to Sh150,000, we have engaged commercial banks that will finance and agree with the beneficiaries on the mode of payment including the cost of air travel where necessary,” said the CS.

Mutua said the Wednesday recruitment drive in Machakos was targeting at least 1,000 young men and women.

“In the next two to three weeks, those who have got jobs today will be flying out of the country to start their jobs overseas. Those required to possess special skills like language may take a bit longer,” he said.

The national jobs recruitment programme is targeting to recruit at least 20,000 Kenyans for jobs overseas.

The CS will lead the jobs recruitment programme in Makueni before heading to Kitui County.