Kenya has concluded a labour mobility agreement with Qatar that will see 13,000 Kenyan workers placed in the Gulf state, in a move Nairobi hopes will expand overseas job opportunities and deepen economic ties. President William Ruto said the scheme is designed to equip young Kenyans with “global skills and exposure” that could later support domestic economic development.
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A key feature of the accord is the planned establishment of a Qatari Visa Centre in Nairobi by 2026, aimed at tightening oversight of the recruitment process and curbing exploitation by intermediaries. The centre will handle biometric registration, contract verification and pre-departure processing, measures officials say will reduce fraud and labour-rights violations that have plagued foreign job placements.
Roughly 90,000 Kenyans currently work in Qatar, largely in security, hospitality, construction and domestic services. While the latest deal could open the door to thousands more positions, migrant-rights advocates warn of persistent risks. An estimated 5,000 Kenyans in Qatar are classified as refugees after travelling through irregular channels on the back of unfulfilled job promises, underscoring gaps in safeguards.
The agreement forms part of a broader push by the Ruto administration to leverage overseas labour markets as a source of employment and foreign exchange. Remittances, which have become one of Kenya’s largest sources of hard currency, are expected to rise further as Nairobi pursues additional labour accords in the Gulf, Europe and Asia.
