Kenya to Deploy Kiswahili Teachers to Qatar Under Labour Agreement.
Kenya is set to send Kiswahili language teachers to Qatar, increasing the number of Kenyans living and working in the Gulf nation to 75,000.
The teachers will join nurses and security personnel who are currently preparing to take up jobs in Qatar under an existing labour agreement between Nairobi and Doha.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Diaspora and Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi revealed this development on Tuesday during a meeting with Qatar’s Ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed al-Enazi.
The discussions focused on expanding employment opportunities for Kenyan workers in Qatar, emphasizing the role of skilled Kenyans in improving their livelihoods and contributing to Kenya’s economic growth through remittances.
Mudavadi noted that since 2024, Qatar had absorbed 7,000 Kenyans, bringing the total workforce to 75,000. He encouraged the ambassador to widen these opportunities to include Kiswahili teachers.
Mudavadi stated that Qatar had recently recruited 200 Kenyans, including high school and university graduates, into its national police force.
“Since 2024, Qatar has employed 7,000 Kenyans, bringing the total to 75,000. I urged the Ambassador to expand these opportunities, including roles for Kiswahili teachers.”
This aligns with the Kenyan government’s broader labour export programme, announced in November 2024, which aims to send one million Kenyans abroad annually. The initiative is designed to tackle rising unemployment, particularly among the youth.
Concerns Over Labour Protection
Despite its potential benefits, the programme has faced criticism due to concerns over the exploitation of Kenyan workers abroad, particularly in regions with weak labour protection laws. Past reports have highlighted cases of abuse and, in extreme situations, deaths of Kenyan migrant workers under suspicious circumstances.
During the Tuesday meeting, Mudavadi extended an invitation to Qatari business leaders to participate in the World Chambers Congress, scheduled to take place in Nairobi from April 9-11.
He described the event as an opportunity for international visitors to experience Kenya’s dynamic business environment. Additionally, he announced plans to relocate the Foreign Ministerial meeting from Nairobi to Doha in November 2025, further strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations.
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In October, Kenya and Qatar reached an agreement to establish a Qatar Visa Centre in Nairobi. The centre is expected to streamline the process of labour export to the Gulf state while ensuring proper signing of job contracts.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua confirmed that the two countries had initiated bilateral discussions aimed at finalizing a new memorandum that will facilitate the deployment of skilled Kenyan workers to Qatar.
Kenya to Deploy Kiswahili Teachers to Qatar Under Labour Agreement.
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