The Kenya Kwanza government aims to increase the number of Kenyans working in Qatar to 300,000, up from the current 67,000.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced this on Sunday during a meeting with Qatar's Labour Minister, Dr. Ali Saeed Samikh Al-Marri.
Mutua revealed that Kenya and Qatar are working to amend their 2012 bilateral labor agreement to increase job opportunities for Kenyans in Qatar.
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These efforts include establishing a visa processing center in Kenya to streamline travel for job seekers.
“Our goal is to send professionals from all fields, including teachers, nurses, artisans, engineers, and more,” Mutua said.
Qatar is particularly interested in skilled workers in ICT, transportation, and education sectors. Ali Saeed reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to attracting highly skilled Kenyan workers: "We are committed to strengthening our ties and will sign a new memorandum to facilitate more Kenyans finding work opportunities in Qatar.”
This initiative aligns with President William Ruto's broader strategy to create international job opportunities for Kenyans.
Recently, he signed a labor mobility agreement with Germany, and his administration is also exploring employment opportunities for Kenyans in Saudi Arabia and other nations.
By enhancing bilateral agreements and fostering global partnerships, Kenya seeks to position its workforce globally while addressing local unemployment issues.