Kenya has secured commitments for 293,600 job opportunities in Saudi Arabia following bilateral talks led by Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua in Riyadh on Thursday.
CS Mutua met Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister for Labour, Dr Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, at the Ministry of Labour offices. Kenyan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Joseph Masila and senior officials from both countries attended the meeting. The discussions focused on expanding employment opportunities for Kenyans, improving working conditions and strengthening bilateral labour cooperation.
The job commitments were secured mainly through employment agencies operating in the Kingdom. The positions span healthcare, education, construction, hospitality, transport, manufacturing, finance, oil and gas, and domestic work.
Specific roles include nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, teachers, tutors, male and female drivers, caregivers, construction workers, heavy machinery operators, chefs, waiters, housekeepers, cleaners, baristas, factory workers, finance professionals and oil and gas specialists.
Mutua described the outcome as a major milestone under the government’s Kazi Majuu programme, which seeks to create dignified and well-paying overseas employment opportunities for Kenyans. He noted that Saudi Arabia recruits an average of 2.5 million new workers annually, adding that Kenya intends to increase its share of the market through fair and transparent recruitment practices.
The two countries also signed a technical annex to the bilateral domestic workers recruitment agreement, originally concluded on 5 July 2026. The annex seeks to streamline recruitment procedures, reduce costs and strengthen contractual safeguards to protect both workers and employers.
They further agreed to implement a three-month pilot programme involving voluntary recruitment fees for domestic workers, aimed at keeping Kenyan recruitment agencies competitive in the Saudi market.
Technical teams from both countries have been tasked with finalising a skilled-workers recruitment agreement within one month. The discussions also covered enhanced pre-departure training, improved remuneration packages, stronger worker welfare measures and the reopening of Saudi labour channels to Kenyan workers following earlier restrictions linked to reported Ebola cases in Kenya.
Mutua reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritising fair recruitment practices, competitive remuneration and enforceable employment contracts.
The commitments are expected to create employment pathways for skilled professionals and other categories of Kenyan job seekers seeking opportunities in the Gulf.
– By John Murunga
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