• In bid to secure job opportunities in Qatar, thousands of Kenyans from all parts of the country flocked at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and Kabete Polytechnic in search of foreign jobs. This unprecedented outcome was in response to the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Labour and Social Protection, Dr. Alfred Mutua’s announcement of 3000 job openings in Qatar to curb the unemployment crisis in the country.
In a bid to secure job opportunities in Qatar, thousands of Kenyans from all parts of the country flocked to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and Kabete Polytechnic in search of foreign jobs.

This unprecedented outcome was in response to the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Labour and Social Protection, Dr. Alfred Mutua’s announcement of 3000 job openings in Qatar to curb the unemployment crisis in the country.

Job migration was seen as a move by the government to absorb the numerous graduates who are tarmacking in search of employment in the country. The current unemployment rate in Kenya stands at 5.6%, with over 5 million people unemployed.

In light of the country having more graduates than what the labor force can actually absorb every year, many academically equipped Kenyans are left jobless, with majority of them opting to do menial jobs in order to make ends meet. The government has sought to secure foreign jobs for its citizens as it grows the economy to create jobs in the country.

In an interview, CS Mutua stated, "This was actually the first time that people were being recruited based on what they bring to the table, as opposed to tribe and gender preferences. With Qatar being a first-world country, the interviews were of very high standards, leaving many people flopped.”

"The first day was a big joke a few days ago. People came into the interview wearing a hoodie. People came into the interview wearing sneakers, not that they couldn’t get shoes. You can even borrow a suit from somebody.“ The CS narrated how many people turned out for the interview, looking unprofessional.

However, according to the CS, the process was seen to experience corruption cases, as rogue agents were witnessed charging people to take them through the interview process. A vehicle carrying 40 passports was also discovered, which suggested that money was being lured from desperate Kenyans. He clarified that no money should be demanded during the interview process. Rather, once you have been shortlisted from the interview, you will be required to pay some fees, such as medical fees.

As the recruitment process comes to an end today, October 28, 2024, many Kenyans are disappointed. The majority of them complain of being turned down due to a lack of 3 years of experience, yet they have been unemployed all their lives; hence, they have little or no job experience.