President William Ruto has announced a new milestone in Kenya’s foreign employment drive, revealing that 13,000 additional job opportunities have been secured for Kenyans in Qatar. This follows an agreement between President Ruto and Qatar’s Labour Minister, Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri, to establish a Qatari Visa Center in Nairobi by early 2026.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, November 5, the initiative is part of the Kenya-Qatar Labour Mobility Program, aimed at equipping Kenyan workers with international skills and experience that can contribute to the country’s development upon their return.
“We are committed to expanding quality job opportunities for our young people through the Labour Mobility Programme,” said President Ruto. “Together with the nation of Qatar, we agreed to operationalise a Qatari Visa Centre in Nairobi in early 2026.”
The visa center is expected to simplify the process for Kenyans seeking employment in Qatar by eliminating bureaucratic delays and enhancing oversight mechanisms to protect workers from exploitation by rogue recruitment agencies.
The deal, reached during Ruto’s meeting with Al Marri on the sidelines of the United Nations Social Development Summit in Doha, is projected to increase the total number of Kenyan workers in Qatar to 90,000.
This expansion aligns with Ruto’s broader agenda to promote youth employment through international partnerships, ensuring Kenyan workers gain global exposure, competitive earnings, and opportunities to uplift their families and communities.
Since 2024, the Kenyan government has been conducting recruitment drives for skilled and semi-skilled workers seeking employment in Qatar. Advertised positions have included cleaners, drivers, chefs, nurses, electricians, plumbers, masons, welders, and other technical and hospitality roles.
With the upcoming Qatari Visa Center in Nairobi, thousands more Kenyans are expected to access job opportunities abroad under fair and regulated systems that safeguard their welfare and ensure transparent recruitment practices.
