President William Ruto has hailed the government’s Kazi Majuu programme as a major success, revealing that more than 400,000 young Kenyans have secured employment opportunities abroad through the initiative.
Speaking at State House Nairobi on Tuesday during a meeting with over 600 leaders from the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA), President Ruto urged Kenyan youth to take advantage of overseas job opportunities facilitated by his administration.
“400,000 young people have gone to work outside Kenya,” Ruto stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to tackling unemployment through international labor mobility.
The Head of State appealed directly to church leaders and parents to encourage young people in their communities to consider foreign employment, particularly under the Kazi Majuu programme. He highlighted the financial benefits, noting that some Kenyans abroad are earning monthly salaries ranging between Ksh.100,000 and Ksh.200,000.
“Is that little money?” he asked rhetorically, urging youth not to be selective about job locations or types of work, including opportunities in sectors such as construction.
President Ruto called for a shift in mindset among Kenyans, encouraging a more proactive and solution-oriented approach to employment. “Let us look for opportunities. Instead of being people who complain, let us be part of the solution,” he said.
Launched on June 30, 2023, the Kazi Majuu programme is a flagship initiative under the Kenya Kwanza administration, aimed at addressing youth unemployment by linking Kenyan workers to overseas jobs. Then-Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua described it as a platform that provides direct access to global employment listings and vetted recruitment agents.
“Kenyans can go online and look for job opportunities all over the world,” Mutua said at the time, adding that the platform would regularly post openings from various countries.
With thousands already deployed, the government says the programme will continue expanding to create more pathways for Kenyan talent in the global labor market.
Written By Rodney Mbua
