In line with the government’s plan to seek international employment opportunities for Kenyan job seekers, 350 seasonal workers are headed to the United Kingdom to offer farm labour in the European country.
Their deployment is part of the Mkulima Majuu Programme where graduates drawn from different Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions will be offering casual labour while enhancing their agricultural expertise.
The State Department of Diaspora Affairs has confirmed that workers selected via the Youth Enterprise Development Fund are scheduled to start their six-month assignment in the UK this August.
The government has fully covered their travel expenses according to the labor agreement with the UK, reflecting Kenya’s dedication to reducing domestic unemployment and creating opportunities for its youth internationally.
The group of Kenyan workers is set to arrive in the UK as the country enters its critical harvest season, which runs from late July to October. This key period for UK agriculture involves gathering crops like wheat, barley, potatoes, and carrots, and the Kenyan workers are anticipated to offer essential labor support during this busy time.
At a send-off event on August 9 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Diaspora Affairs, commended the progress of the Mkulima Majuu programme.
“This initiative has transformed lives since its inception last year. From a humble beginnings with three TVET institutions, we now have 13 institutions on board, and over 1,500 youths have benefitted,” Njogu stated.
Njogu also pointed out the programme’s potential for growth, noting that they are looking into opportunities in additional global markets like Canada and Australia, where agricultural workers could succeed.
The same sentiments were echoed by incoming Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Alfred Mutua, who revealed ambitious plans to significantly boost the number of young Kenyans working abroad.
“We are currently dispatching 2,000 workers each week. My goal is to raise this number to 10,000 per week, which would mean 40,000 workers per month, translating to 1,000 workers per county each week,” Mutua stated.
Their deployment also comes at a time when riots have rocked the UK, following outbreaks of anti-immigration and Islamophobic violence. This has seen countries such as India, Australia and Indonesia issue travel advisory against visiting the country. Kenya has also issued a warning, urging citizens living in the UK to stay away from protest areas, and to remain vigilant.