The government of Kenya on Tuesday, through the state Department for Labour and Skills Development, hosted a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to conduct interviews for specialist Kenyan nurses seeking employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
This is part of the jobs secured by President William Ruto on his 40th foreign trip which was to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in November 2023
During the trip, the two governments signed a negotiating framework for skilled labour exports.
On July 31, Labour Ministry invited applicants for the second batch of nurses to be flagged off to the Arabian Kingdom, announcing that 2,500 vacancies were available.
In the public notice undersigned by PS Shadrack Mwadime on July 30, the eligible candidates for the job placements needed needed to be Kenyan female nurses aged 45 years and below.
Other requirements were included possessing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing or a Diploma of Nursing-Midwifery European Union.
Furthermore, the applicant were to be registered and licensed by the Nursing Council of Kenya, holding a valid Kenyan Passport and police good conduct clearance certificate.
The applicant was also expected to give consent in order to undergo a data flow verification.
The terms for the jobs provide for a 1-year renewable contract with an 8-hour daily working schedule. The basic minimum salary was set at 4,110 SAR, with an additional 295 SAR for every year worked.
With current exchange rates, that amount represents a basic salary of Ksh. 141,288 for the first year of work.
The nurses are also entitled to a paid annual vacation and free round-trip economy ticket yearly.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia County on January 18, 2024, after the first group of 2,500 nurses were flagged off, President Ruto asked Kenyans to apply for the subsequent jobs reminding them that there is no menial work.
“Tafadhali, tukubaliane, wewe ukiona mahali kuna nafasi usichelewe. Usingojee, hakuna kubembeleza watu, kila mtu afanye ile kazi anaona inatoshana na yeye.”
(Lets agree please, if you see a job opportunity, apply promptly. There is no handholding, let everyone do the work they see fits their situation.)
