Ruto promises to secure 3,000-5000 jobs weekly for Kenyans seeking to work abroad

President William Ruto says the government is seeking to sign new bilateral agreements that will see Kenya export more labour force abroad.

Speaking during a church service in Sotik, Bomet County, on Sunday, November 19, the Head of State said his administration aims to send 3,000 to 5,000 Kenyans abroad weekly as part of efforts to address the high rate of unemployment in the country.

The move, President Ruto noted, would also help grow Kenya's struggling economy.

"I have agreed with Bore (Labour CS Florence Bore) that we will sign bilateral labour agreements so that we export labour from Kenya. We want to export 3,000 to 5,000 Kenyans every week so that they can go and work abroad to sustain their livelihood and also bring us money," President Ruto said.

Ruto indicated that his government is in talks with several foreign countries with a view to creating more job opportunities for Kenyans abroad. The countries include Saudi Arabia, Germany and France.

The president revealed that he would be travelling to Germany on Sunday night to secure at least 200,000 jobs German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised Kenyans during his visit to Kenya in May.

"I was in Saudi Arabia last week. My CS was at the Saudi Arabia Embassy as we had agreed. The German (Chancellor) was in Kenya three months ago. Tonight, I am going to Germany because he promised us 200,000 jobs."

"I must go there and seal the deal," he added.

Ruto defends foreign trips

He also defended his numerous foreign trips, insisting that the country stands to benefit from his engagement with world leaders.

On the worrying state of the country's economy, the president maintained that his goal is to transform Kenya and make future generations prosperous.

He noted that he was not worried so much about his re-election but doing the right thing for the country.

"Kenya has stagnated for many years because of leaders focusing on their re-election... That's not my work. I am not planning on how to be re-elected. I am planning on how to transform the country," Ruto stated, further assuring Bomet residents that the economy would improve.

"We can not continue to focus on the next election, we must begin to focus on the next generation. That's how to change Kenya."

In recent months, President Ruto has faced heavy criticism for imposing additional taxes on Kenyans despite the harsh economic times.