The Kenyan government has acquired 200,000 overseas job opportunities since June 2024, which has significantly reduced the country’s unemployment rate, according to Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at creating one million jobs annually to combat the rising unemployment rate, which currently affects over 5 million Kenyans.
Speaking today at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where he flagged off 20 young Kenyans set to work as taxi drivers in Abu Dhabi, Mwadime emphasised the government’s commitment to expanding job opportunities for the youth.
“We are told that there are 5 million young people who are out there without jobs, and our objective is to access as many opportunities as possible,” he stated.
The Principal Secretary highlighted that the export of labour not only provides employment, but also facilitates the transfer of technology and economic growth back to Kenya.
“What we are doing will not lead to brain drain; rather, we are gaining in terms of the savings they make and the technological know-how they acquire,” he explained.
Mwadime further noted that the government is actively investing in job creation initiatives, focusing on securing opportunities in Western Europe, the Gulf region, and other emerging markets.
He encouraged young Kenyans to seize these opportunities as part of a strategic effort to reduce the unemployment rate.
In support of this initiative, Ledson Agency Limited Director Jason Njuguna announced that his agency aims to create approximately 3,000 driving jobs annually.
“For this year, we are targeting around 3,000, but so far we have managed to secure around 150. We are continuing to conduct interviews to fill the remaining slots,” Njuguna reported.
As the government continues to forge pathways for employment abroad, the hope is that these efforts will not only alleviate unemployment but also empower young Kenyans with valuable skills and experiences that will benefit the nation in the long run.
