Why Kenya risks losing skilled workers to other countries

Nyanza residents flock NITA office grounds in Kisumu to try their luck for overseas jobs during an event presided over by Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, on February 7, 2025. [Michael Mute, Standard]

Whether it is nurses in Germany, agricultural interns in Denmark, or mechanics in Australia, the skilled workforce is leaving the country, drawn by better opportunities and structured migration pathways supported by bilateral agreements.

Data from the National Employment Authority (NEA) reveals that in the 2023/2024 financial year alone, 103,878 Kenyans secured jobs abroad, up from 98,247 the previous year.