President William Ruto announced significant changes to the management of the National Employment Authority (NEA) during a Presidential Town Hall in Mombasa County on Sunday evening. The move aims to enhance job creation opportunities for Kenyan youth, particularly abroad.
“I have changed the management of NEA so that we can tap into opportunities to work outside Kenya,” Ruto stated, revealing that the decision was made earlier that morning in a meeting with Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime.
While Ruto did not specify whether the new management had begun implementing the government’s ambitious employment agenda, he confirmed that Kenya is actively pursuing nineteen bilateral agreements for labor export. “So far, we are exporting 1,000 citizens every week to work in foreign countries,” he added.
In his remarks, Ruto highlighted the government’s success in creating over 400,000 jobs, which are listed on the NEA’s official website. He noted that 160,000 individuals are currently employed in the housing sector, a result of the recently enacted housing levy, which he modeled after successful initiatives in Singapore.
Additionally, Ruto pointed out a critical demand for healthcare professionals, stating that Kenya is unable to meet the need for 2,500 nurses in Saudi Arabia under the labor export program. Earlier in the day, while addressing residents in Mwatate, he mentioned that more than 120,000 youths are now earning from Technical Vocational Education Institutions (TVETs), further demonstrating the government’s commitment to youth employment.