President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government’s dedication to aiding Kenyans who secure employment abroad. Speaking in Taita Taveta on Sunday, Ruto revealed that 1,000 Kenyans are leaving the country weekly for jobs overseas. He emphasized the government’s commitment to facilitating this process, including expedited passport issuance and covering flight costs.
“I have done my work, I have looked for jobs abroad. I have planned that those going for overseas jobs get their passports in one week. They do not even need money for flight tickets, we will pay for flights,” Ruto stated. He called on Members of Parliament to organize youths in their constituencies to benefit from these job opportunities.
In an effort to combat youth unemployment, Ruto has signed agreements with various countries to export Kenya’s youthful workforce. Beyond facilitating overseas employment, he is also focused on creating digital jobs that allow youth to work remotely for international companies.
During his address, Ruto reiterated a promise made on May 26 to secure investments and opportunities, aiming to place 10,000 Kenyans in overseas jobs annually, with a goal of 250,000 Kenyans working abroad each year.
JKIA Development Clarification
President Ruto also addressed public concerns regarding the development plans for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Dispelling rumors of a sale, Ruto clarified that the government is pursuing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to upgrade the facility, not sell it.
“The airport we have in Nairobi is made of canvas in the arrivals. This is a temporary structure we put up almost 7 years ago. Ethiopia and Rwanda have a brand-new airport. It is the reason why we need to work with investors to give us a new airport,” Ruto explained. He asserted that a PPP approach is the best way to attract both foreign and local investment for the airport’s development.
Ruto dismissed the notion of selling a strategic national asset as absurd, stating, “Am I a mad man? How do you sell a strategic national asset? You have to be insane. We must have the right investment for the airport. What we want to do is to work under the PPP programme.”
His comments follow significant public backlash over a proposed Ksh.242 billion investment by Adani Airports Holding Limited to expand JKIA. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed receiving Adani’s proposal, which includes building a new passenger terminal, a second runway, and improvements to existing infrastructure. This 30-year development plan, part of the Cabinet-ratified JKIA Medium Term Investment Plan, has faced scrutiny from civil society groups and some legislators over fears of privatization.
