Govt Announces Mandatory Training for Kenyans Seeking Qatar Jobs

Alfred Mutua
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua during the East African Employability Summit at KICC on Tuesday, October 29. PHOTO/ Alfred Mutua

All Kenyans who successfully applied for Qatar jobs have been directed to present themselves at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for compulsory departure training on Saturday, November 30.

In a statement on Friday, November 29, the Labour Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Mutua directed that only candidates who have signed the offer letters are the ones who should attend the training.

"Pre-departure orientation and training for successful candidates who have already signed their offer letters will take place tomorrow at KICC, Nairobi, starting at 8am," the CS informed.

In the update on the job recruitment process, Mutua revealed that the processing of documents and contracts for candidates hired during the Qatar recruitment drive is progressing well, and departures are approaching.

Mutua
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua(second left) interacting with Kenyans who had shown up for Qatar jobs recruitment at Kabete National Polytechnic in Nairobi.
Ministry of Labour

Further, the CS directed candidates who passed the interviews but have not yet been contacted to present themselves to KICC on Monday between 9am and 5pm for further details.

"If you have passed and been called but have not yet signed your offer letter, please come on Monday to the notified location between 9am and 5pm. Do not attend the pre-departure training tomorrow if you haven’t signed your offer letter. Your training will be scheduled after signing and completing the necessary medicals," the CS noted.

There is still hope for candidates who have yet to receive notifications on the offer letters, as the CS revealed that the letters are still being processed in Qatar. The affected candidates have been advised to exercise patience, as they will be contacted once the letters are ready.

72 candidates whose contact details were missing have been notified to go to KICC on Monday, December 2, to sign their offer letters. The list of the candidate's names can be found on the CS official X page.

In October, the CS revealed that only 20 per cent of the 20,000 Kenyans who turned up for the interviews were successful. Kenyans turned up in large numbers despite the fact that only 3,000 positions were available to be filled.

To ensure accessibility, the government is collaborating with stakeholders such as the National Employment Authority (NEA), the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and licensed recruitment agencies. Recruitment will take place at county headquarters and TVET institutions.

The Kenyans will be traveling to Qatar for plumbing, masonry, electrical jobs, and more.

The initiative is part of President William Ruto’s commitment to creating both local and international job opportunities for Kenyans.

Youth
Kenyans lining up for jobs at KICC on Friday, October 25, 2024
Courtesy