Nakuru, Kenya – President William Ruto has said that Kenyans being exported for labour abroad should go through the National Youth Service Training (NYS).
This followed Ruto’s administration’s plans to export labour to foreign countries to curb the country’s rising unemployment.
Speaking during the NYS pass-out parade in Gilgil, Nakuru, on Friday, December 8, Ruto said NYS will be a pre-deployment college for Kenyans to be exported for labour abroad.
“In the process of securing jobs for our youth in foreign countries, the NYS is going to be the central organisation for pre-deployment training, so that Kenyans understand what they need to do when they go out for labour,” said Ruto.
National Youth Service recruits pass-out parade, Gilgil, Nakuru County. https://t.co/vwx9RlbpY9
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) December 8, 2023
Ruto said the government is concluding negotiations with Germany, Saudi Arabia and other eight countries on the export of labour programme.
Will government employees come from NYS?
The head of state said the government will increase the number of NYS trainee graduates from the current 10,000 (this year) to 15,000 in the first cohort in 2024.
“In total next year, 30,000 trainees will graduate as we position NYS as the incubator for all other arms of government,” he said.
The president added that 80% of all security recruitment will be from the NYS, including the Kenya Forest service (KFS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers.
Kenyans deployed to work in Israel farms
The announcement followed Kenya’s government’s plans to deploy 1,500 youth to work in Israeli farms.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection announced it will export Kenyan labour to Israel following a deal with the Managing Director of Guri Avocado Rami Cohen.
This comes despite the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that has seen workers flee Israel for security purposes.
The ministry said there is a guaranteed net income of USD1,500 (KSh 230,000)per month, on 3 years renewable contracts.
“Kenyan will export labour for Israel’s agriculture fields as casual workers. These emerged following a bilateral discussion between Principal Secretary (PS) Shadrack Mwadime and Managing Director of Guri Avocados from Israel, Mr Rami Cohen today,” the ministry wrote.
The ministry added that various agencies licensed by the Kenya National Employment Authority would implement the program.
