The government will offer loans of up to Sh300,000 to Kenyans seeking jobs abroad, Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua has said.
The CS made the announcement after meeting with Youth Fund CEO Josiah Moriasi and other stakeholders to explore a partnership aimed at supporting Kenyan youth who have secured employment abroad through an initiative dubbed Kazi Majuu.
Eligible youth who have secured jobs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries but face financial challenges will be able to access loans of up to Sh300,000 to cater for travel costs and other expenses.
“The initiative, dubbed Kazi Majuu, will target youth who have secured jobs abroad but face financial challenges in meeting pre-travel costs. Eligible candidates can access migration loans of up to Ksh300,000,” Mutua said in a statement.
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The funds will be drawn from the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) which has already disbursed Sh94 million in this financial year alone, benefiting 422 youth.
“This initiative aligns with our broader goal of empowering young people by providing them with the means to access decent and well-paying jobs globally, ultimately improving livelihoods and contributing to Kenya’s economic growth,” Mutua added.
The CS noted that the Kenya Kwanza government has secured thousands of job opportunities abroad, but many qualified candidates struggle to take up these positions due to financial constraints.
Over 243,000 Kenyans have secured employment abroad through government initiatives since September 2022.
Most of these jobseekers have been deployed to various countries, including Germany, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait.
