Kazi Majuu is labour mobility, not migration – Kindiki

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki engages a Kenyan leaving for Qatar under the labour mobility programme at KICC on December 11, 2024/DPCS

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has insisted that the Kazi Majuu program is a labour mobility program by the government but not a labour migration programme.’

Speaking on Wednesday when he presides over the launch of the Global Labour Market Strategy and the National Strategy on Skills for Labour Mobility at KICC, Kindiki said the programme is meant to assist Kenyan youths in securing jobs in other countries.

He said that even as they go to work abroad, they will remain Kenyans.

The Deputy President reiterated that the government only wants them to utilize their skills where they are needed and earn a decent living.

“Kazi Majuu is not a migration programme. It is a labour mobility programme to assist workers in accessing jobs outside Kenya. They are still Kenyans, they remain patriotic, love their country and the opportunities provided by our friends are for them to go and work,” Kindiki said.

He said this will also help them to invest back at home and that they can always come back whenever they want.

“We are not disposing of our people to other countries but securing them job opportunities abroad, to earn a decent living, utilise their skills and reinvest back home.

“We are asking them to invest in Kenya and they are always free to come back whenever they want.”

Kindiki who also presided over the farewell of the first batch of 300 Kenyans leaving the country for Qatar on Wednesday night said that he prays that Kenyans who have secured jobs will be good ambassadors of Kenya.

“We pray that they will stay there, obey the laws of Qatar and be able to create friendships and networks in that country.”

Another batch of 7,700 Kenyan workers will leave the country next week and in the early days of January.

Another set of 8,000 Kenyans is scheduled to travel by March 2025.

Since the beginning of the labour mobility programme, over 282,000 Diaspora jobs have been created in two years.

The DP also told off the section of Kenyans criticizing the programme, saying that they should allow Kenyans who have no jobs to also get opportunities to transform their lives with jobs abroad.

Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Dr. Alfred Mutua, Principal Secretaries; Shadrack Mwadime (Labour), Roseline Njogu (Diaspora Affairs) and Dr. Esther Muoria (Technical, Vocational Education and Training), diplomats and senior Government officials were present.