William Ruto, President of Kenya
President William Ruto has vowed to help jobless Kenyans find work overseas as he seeks to quell rising discontent among the youth demanding his resignation over unmet promises.
Speaking in Taita Taveta on Sunday, Dr Ruto unveiled plans to expedite passport issuance for those seeking opportunities abroad.
“I have done my work; I have secured jobs abroad. I have arranged for those going for overseas jobs to get their passports within one week,” he announced. “They don’t even need money for flight tickets; we will pay for their flights.”
This pledge comes amid significant delays at the Immigration Department, where some passport applications have been pending for over a year due to shortages of passport booklets, equipment failures, corruption, and poor public relations.
In November 2023, President Ruto promised to sign bilateral agreements with Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states to export labor from Kenya. It remains unclear how many opportunities have been secured so far.
However, on Sunday, Ruto claimed the government had already facilitated more than 400,000 youths in securing jobs abroad and urged Members of Parliament to organize young people in their constituencies to join these programs.
“Every week, 1,000 Kenyan youths relocate to work in other countries. Now, Taita Taveta should get ready for their turn,” the President declared. “To the MPs, I have done my job of finding opportunities abroad. Anyone who wants to go abroad for work will receive a passport and other necessary documents within a week.”
Beyond overseas opportunities, Dr. Ruto emphasized his commitment to creating digital jobs, enabling youth to work remotely for international companies.
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