Kenyans seeking employment opportunities are shifting their attention from European countries to Canada.
According to Canadian Immigration Department, over 13,000 Kenyans work in various economic sectors in the North American country.
Kenyans seek to obtain the required documents to fly to Canada since the country is politically stable and has a thriving economy. Canada also offers other advantages, including a highly developed healthcare system and an internationally recognised education system.
"There are now over 13,000 people of Kenyan origin who live in Canada. This number continues to grow yearly due to more Kenyans moving to Canada to immigrate, work, and study," the immigration department stated.
The Canadian dollar also favours Kenyans looking for jobs listed in that country. According to the indicative rates released by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on Friday, June 9, the exchange rate for the Kenyan shilling against the Canadian dollar is Ksh104.
Besides employment opportunities, the Canadian Immigration Department website indicates that Kenyans are in a strong position to immigrate to Canada due to their English language proficiency, education, and professional work experience.
Kenyans moving to Canada are enrolled on various sectors, with health leading. In January 2023, 65 Kenyan nurses, recruited from the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps were employed by a local medical facility in Canada.
The hotel industry is also a leading employment sector. On Thursday, 18 May 2023, a Canadian Hotel chain started a fundraising drive to raise funds to help two Kenyan refugees to relocate to Canada.
"Our goal is to raise Ksh550,000 ($4000) in funds that would go towards the costs of their travel, food, basic household items and the fees they will incur while working to become permanent residents of Canada," the company started.
Education, business and information technology, the construction sector and homecare providers follow suit.
Conditions for Job Applicants
To land job opportunities in Canada, Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser announced that Kenyans must meet the requirements of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which will be issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to prospective employers.
Fraser added that after approval, Kenyans must apply for a work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Additionally, he added that applicants must meet the skills and language test to be considered.
However, due to the demand, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada cautioned Kenyans against job schemes. In a statement, they stated that some Kenyans were sharing misinformation aimed at hoodwinking applicants.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua reiterated this by warning Kenyans against falling prey to job schemes.
“Canada is proud to be a top destination for global talent and an increasingly popular destination for Kenyan nationals, including international students and workers in the agriculture industry.
"Minister Fraser and the Cabinet Secretary agreed that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officials will provide Kenyan officials with a comprehensive briefing of all of Canada’s available immigration programs and additional insights into how all foreign nationals can apply to these programs," read part of the statement.
