Bomet: How Overseas Employment Is Transforming the Lives of Konoin Youth

More than 50 young people from Konoin Constituency have secured employment in the Gulf states through a programme by the Lapaa Taa Foundation, providing new sources of income for their families and creating opportunities for long-term economic stability.

The programme has connected graduates and other job seekers with employers in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. For many of those selected, the jobs offer a stable income, practical work experience and a chance to build their futures after struggling to find employment in Kenya.

Enock Cheruiyot from Kobor is among the latest beneficiaries to relocate. He says the programme gave him an opportunity to move beyond the uncertainty of searching for work locally. Since moving abroad, he has been supporting his family while gaining valuable professional experience.

Dennis Kipkoech says finding a job after graduation was difficult and left him questioning whether his education would lead to employment. He says working overseas restored his confidence and enabled him to invest in projects at home.

Brian Kirui says his income supports relatives in Ngererit while helping him save towards his goal of starting a transport business in Kenya. Victor Kipkirui Langat says growing up in poverty made overseas employment seem beyond reach, but the opportunity has given him prospects he never expected to have.

Titus Langat, Prolin Kiprono Chepkwony and Brian Bett have also secured employment through the programme. Parents say the employment opportunities have brought significant changes to their households. 

Mary Chepkoech says her son's earnings helped the family build a permanent home and invest in dairy farming. Samuel Langat says his son's income funded irrigation projects, allowing the family to produce food throughout the year and pay school fees for younger children.

Konoin MP Brighton Yegon says the programme was established to reduce youth unemployment by connecting qualified graduates with opportunities in international labour markets. He says many young Kenyans have the skills employers abroad require but lack access to recruitment networks. The initiative also focuses on supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The benefits of overseas employment extend beyond the individuals who secure the jobs. Income earned abroad often supports entire families by paying school fees, meeting medical expenses and funding investments in farming and small businesses. In many rural communities, remittances provide an important source of financial security where local employment opportunities remain limited.

The programme has also strengthened confidence among young people who had struggled to find work after completing their education. Employment abroad has given many of them practical experience, financial independence and skills that could contribute to local development if they return to Kenya.