Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has flagged off the first group of Kenyan workers set to begin employment in Russia.
The group, consisting of 50 Kenyans from various counties, left the country on Wednesday night, June 25, to take up jobs in the Asian country.
"Yesterday, I met and saw off the first batch of 50 Kenyans who have obtained employment in Russia. Members of the group, from various counties, recounted how they had stayed at home without income for a long time and were grateful for this opportunity," he said.
According to Mutua, workers will be earning a monthly salary of Ksh115,000, in addition to enjoying free accommodation and meals during their time abroad.
"They will be earning a take-home salary of Ksh. 115,000 a month, with free accommodation and food provided, and will be working in a food packing factory. I urged them to bank their earnings every month in Kenya so that they have good savings for their future," he added.
Read More
Mutua also highlighted the role of Uwezo Fund in facilitating this opportunity, revealing that the government covered travel and service costs through a soft loan.
"Uwezo Fund was able to provide them with monies for tickets and the service fee, and they did not have to come up with any personal money. Once they start work, they will slowly refund the Government loan over a short period so that others can benefit from the funds," he further said.
This comes months after a group of 200 Kenyan police guards has left the country for Qatar after successfully securing positions in the Gulf nation's security sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 5, Mutua said the recruits, selected through a rigorous process, will undergo extensive training before being fully integrated into the Qatari government security system.
"Following the successful recruitment of Kenyan Police Guards trainees for the State of Qatar, I was pleased to see off the 200 recruits who will be serving in the Government of Qatar.
"These Kenyans will undergo extensive training before being fully integrated into the Qatari government security system," the CS said.
Mutua who saw off the recruits expressed confidence in their ability to excel in their new roles, adding that the selection process was highly competitive.
"I encouraged them to work diligently, uphold discipline, and represent Kenya with excellence. The selection process required proficiency in Arabic, a spotless criminal record, a strong educational background and an exemplary attitude —key attributes for success in their new roles," he added.
