Ruto: Qatar has given me 13,000 jobs for Kenyan youth

President Ruto stated at a rally in Ukambani, Makueni County, that the agreement is part of the government's larger plan to create more job opportunities, increase foreign remittances, and alleviate the rising unemployment burden among young people. 

“Tuko na mipango mara nne ya wewe kujipanga na ajira, kwa sababu tulikumbaliana ya kwamba ile changamoto kubwa ya Kenya ni vijana wengi wamemaliza shule hawana kazi,” President Ruto said.

“We have four plans for you to prepare for a job, because we agreed that the biggest challenge in Kenya faces is that many young people have completed school but have no jobs,” President Ruto said.

“kazi yetu ya kwanza ya kupanga hawa vijana ni program yetu ya housing, market, hostel. Na tuko na vijana laki sita are working in those programs. Kama wewe ni plumber, carpenter, mason, mtu wa mikono, architecture iko kazi.”

“Our first job to strategise the youth is through our housing projects, markets, and hostels programs. We already have about 600,000 young people working in those programs. If you are a plumber, carpenter, mason, or architect, there is work for you,” he added.

The Head of State also encouraged young people to pursue opportunities in the digital economy, particularly through the government's "Jitume Centres," "ICT Hubs," and "Business Process Outsourcing" programmes. 

“Sasa tuko na nafasi ya vijana kujipatia ajira, mahali unaweza kufanya kazi kwa mtambao kampuni iko Marekani, Ulaya, Ujerumani lakini unafanyia hapa Makueni na unapata pesa kila mwezi,” Ruto stated.

“We now have opportunities for young people to self-employ and work online remotely for companies based in the United States, Europe, or Germany, while living right here in Makueni and earning a monthly salary,” Ruto stated.

During the United Nations Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) held in, Doha, Qatar, President Ruto said that Kenya had signed bilateral labour agreements with 19 different foreign countries, noting that Qatar alone have offered 13,000 job placements for Kenyan youth.

“Mimi na huyu Alfred Mutua (Labour Cabinet Secretary) tumekumbaliana ya kwamba lazima tupange ajira ya vijana, pahali itapatikana, vijana watakwenda huko,” he said. 

“Together with Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, we have agreed that we must organise employment for our youth wherever opportunities arise, and the youth will go there,” he stated.

President Ruto urged the youth to apply for the available jobs, revealing that about 20,000 youths have already been working abroad for the past three months, under what he termed as “Export of labour” strategy. 

“Sasa tunakuambia Rais enda ututafutia vijana wengi 13,000 tuko na nafasi yao hapa Qatar. Wakuje waendeleshe maisha, walipwe na madollar, wajiinua na wajenge taifa yetu ya Kenya,” Ruto said.

“I have been told, ‘Mr. President, please bring us 13,000 more Kenyan youth; we have opportunities for them here in Qatar. They will work, earn in dollars, uplift themselves, and help build our nation,” Ruto said.

He added that the government is committed to supporting young people to access such opportunities abroad, saying, “through this program, we have already supported about 400,000 young people to secure employment outside Kenya over the last three months.”

“Katika hiyo program, tumesaidia vijana tayari 400,000 kupata ajira nje ya Kenya for the last three months.”

President Ruto also urged the youth to apply for the newly launched NYOTA Programme, describing it as a great opportunity for young Kenyans to gain skills and access to local and international employment.