Inside Kenya Government's Plan to Create 1 Million Overseas Jobs Per Year
The Kenyan government aims to generate one million job opportunities annually for Kenyans residing abroad in order to increase diaspora remittances and foreign exchange revenue.
The total diaspora remittances reached $4.027 billion last year which is more than the foreign exchange earnings from the country's primary exports such as horticulture, tea, and coffee. Around four million Kenyans work and live overseas and they send money back to their country for personal development, investment, and family care. To relieve the pressure of youth unemployment, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore disclosed on Tuesday that there are job openings for Kenyans in various countries in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The government plans to make these job opportunities available through the National Employment Authority (NEA) and collaborate with recruitment firms to ensure that Kenyans are not exploited and that all legal procedures are followed. Besides creating employment locally, President William Ruto's administration also seeks to expand the economy and strengthen the shilling by exploring overseas opportunities.
“There are more than 15 countries where Kenyans can seek employment opportunities, including the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and others,” Ms Bore said in Kericho.
Currently, there are only 500 labour agencies operating in Kenya as many were deregistered for improper registration and operations. Kenyans typically work abroad in industries such as nursing, teaching, security, cleaning, and truck driving, but new bilateral agreements are expected to create more opportunities for different professions. Saudi Arabia has traditionally been the destination for domestic workers from Kenya, but cases of abuse by employers and exploitation by agents have marred this relationship.
Germany recently signed bilateral labour agreements with Kenya enabling Kenyans to access job opportunities in the European country. Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua had also identified job opportunities for Kenyans in various sectors of the Canadian economy.
Comments (10)
The problem I see here is that the government is creating overreliance on remittance.It is not good to have what foreign workers send home to be greater than the primary exports...We cannot depend on largesse as large source of our revenue.
What we are doing here is exporting labor instead of exporting the products,and commodities, that this labor should be generating.
This is not how to build out economy.The significant role these remmittance play in our economy is well documented,so no need to mention here.However, it is important to note that these are funds generated by individuals who feel the need to help family,and friends "back home".Wow, where would some of them be without remittance?Put in another way, remittance are lagely alleviating poverty,and improving the standard of living for agood number of Kenyans.Granted the remittence trickles down to many economic channels,not enough is generated to build factories,and large scale farming to avoid exporting labor,and have us consume it ourselves.
So what will happen when we need the same labor we are exporting? Yes.I know it looks impossible in the forseeable future.I guess will deal with it when we cross the bridge.My two cents.
@Maxiley this is brain and workforce drain
we need to create jobs in Kenya mainly improving our farming methods . i.e we use ferlizers without Soil testing to help us h to identify the key nutrients the soil needs.
we believe the more fertilize the more yield this is poisoining our soil such that nothing can grow. there has to be a Nutrient Management Plan. kenya has different soil and climate depending on the location
including other location specific factors
with good nutrient management plan we can become a major exporter of agricultural products . Israel and Netherlands for example they are big exporters yet their land size is small and climate is not as favourable as ours we have no winter season
Create jobs in Kenya. Period!!! Build your home first before venturing out to other nations.
"Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore?" Haki Kenya kwisha kama huyu mama ndiye Protection Secretary. Si alijaribu kugrab nyumba ya Njoroge huko Karen?
Nig nogs need to create jobs in Kenya not overseas
Govt to generate or create 1m jobs for Kenyans living abroad.
Which morons write these articles?
Let's see just for clarification. 1m jobs in kenya for Kenyans living abroad?
Idiots!
The Kenya govt can't create jobs abroad. Can they even do it in Kenya?
@mundumugo you are very right .How can one create jobs in a foreign country. it is a joke I think these gorillas who call themselves kenya government should go before a mirror and read what is written on their faces 'IDIOT" that is their name
If this isn’t the most stupid government tho. Damn. Which country wants its citizens gone? That’s nit creating, that’s reliance on others while all you’re good at is corruption. Mafi ya kuku government
It's weird that high level govt officials since Kibaki days schooled in the West Univ but nothing to show for it in taking Kenya to the next level. China and East tigers have moved to middle and highly developed nations. Their officials implemented ideas from the West successfully.