Labour CS Alfred Mutua sees off 200 Kenyans employed as security guards in Qatar, February 5, 2025 /ALFRED MUTUA/XKenya has sent 200 security guards to work in Qatar, a day after Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi said the government was exploring nursing, teaching, and security job opportunities in the Gulf state.
In an update on Wednesday, Labour and Social Protection CS Alfred Mutua said he had seen off the security recruits to Qatar, being part of the government's labour export programme initiated last year.
“These Kenyans will undergo extensive training before being fully integrated into the Qatari government security system,” he said.
The number adds to the 75,000 Kenyan migrant workers employed in Qatar thus far, including 7,000 hired since 2024.
Mutua said the selection process required proficiency in Arabic, a clean criminal record, a strong educational background, and an exemplary attitude.
“I encouraged them to work diligently, uphold discipline, and represent Kenya with excellence,” Mutua said, adding, “More recruited Kenyans for various jobs in Qatar will continue traveling as per the schedule set by the employing company in Qatar.”
On Tuesday, Mudavadi met with the Qatari Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Al-Enazi in Nairobi, during which he said he urged the envoy to expand job opportunities for Kenyans, including roles for Kiswahili teachers. He revealed that the 200 Kenyans who range from Form 4 leavers to university graduates were recruited into the Qatari National Police Force.
“I also emphasised the need for collaboration in media operations and capacity building,” Mudavadi said.
The government announced in November last year that it intends to ship a million Kenyans to work in foreign countries annually as part of a new job scheme aimed at creating job opportunities, especially for the youth.
Mutua said during a recruitment process across six counties, 5,931 Kenyans registered for various jobs in just a week.
The exercise, which started on November 20, 2024, in Machakos county received overwhelming response with 5,931 Kenyans having registered by the time it was temporarily suspended seven days later to fast-track the processing of the already selected applicants.
"I want to assure all successful applicants that they will be contacted by Wednesday next week, and a new schedule for the exercise will be announced after Jamhuri Day," Mutua said after overseeing the recruitment at the Nyandarua National Polytechnic.