
Gov’t Sends 350 Kenyan Workers To The UK Amid Rampant Riots
Despite the recent wave of violent protests in the former colonial power, Kenya is continuing its international labour initiatives by sending 350 seasonal workers to the United Kingdom.
This deployment is part of the Mkulima Majuu programme, which has been hailed as a huge success by government officials.
The State Department of Diaspora confirmed that the workers, selected through the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, will begin their six-month stay in the UK in August.
Their trip has been entirely funded by the government, demonstrating Kenya’s commitment to reducing domestic unemployment and providing opportunities for its youth abroad.
This new group of workers will arrive in the UK just as the country begins its critical harvest season.
The harvest season, which runs from late July to October, is critical for UK agriculture, as crops such as wheat, barley, potatoes, and carrots are harvested from the fields.
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Kenyan workers are expected to provide much-needed labor support during this busy time.
During a send-off ceremony at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on August 9, Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Diaspora Affairs, expressed her satisfaction with the Mkulima Majuu programme’s progress.
“This initiative has transformed lives since its inception last year. From a humble beginning with three TVET institutions, we now have 13 institutions on board, and over 1,500 youths have benefitted,” Njogu stated.
Njogu also highlighted the program’s potential for expansion.
“We anticipate further growth and are exploring opportunities in other global markets, including Canada and Australia, where our agricultural workers can thrive.”
Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, echoed these sentiments and announced ambitious plans to dramatically increase the number of Kenyans working abroad.
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“We are currently dispatching 2,000 workers each week. My goal is to raise this number to 10,000 per week, which would mean 40,000 workers per month, translating to 1,000 workers per county each week,” Mutua declared.
This strategy is consistent with President William Ruto’s goal of exporting 5,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers weekly, which the government believes will significantly reduce unemployment and increase remittances.
The Mkulima Majuu programme is more than just a way to export labour; it also aims to boost Kenya’s agricultural expertise.
When the workers return to Kenya, they are expected to apply their newly acquired skills to local businesses, thus contributing to the country’s agricultural development.
Applications for the programme are processed by HOPS Labour Solutions Limited, in collaboration with the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.
This initiative comes after the government successfully deployed 76 nurses to the UK last year under the Government-to-Government Bilateral Labour Agreement.
The Labour Ministry has been working to expand Kenya’s labor export footprint, with former Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore revealing earlier this year that 500 Kenyan workers had been sent to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Germany, and the UAE.
Gov’t Sends 350 Kenyan Workers To The UK Amid Rampant Riots