Youth raise concerns over high cost of moving abroad for work

Part of the youth who attended the Western region Job Fair at Mbale High School in Vihiga County. [Brian Kisanji, Standard]

Young people have voiced concerns over the high cost of applying for foreign jobs even as they claimed they were optimistic of getting opportunities.

Since Wednesday, thousands of youth thronged Mbale town in Vihiga County in search of foreign job opportunities in a three-day government-sponsored job fair.

The "Kazi Majuu" Job Fair was aimed at providing them with guidelines for the global job market.

The event brought together over 4,000 youth from Vihiga and neighbouring counties who were eager to learn how to access job opportunities abroad. However, they claimed the cost of securing opportunities abroad was too high for them.

The exhibitors included foreign job agencies, the banking sector, learning institutions, and airline companies.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi who opened the fair urged young people to embrace the initiative to enable them get foreign jobs.

"This is your opportune moment to learn about the jobs available abroad and the process you need to follow if you are interested in securing a placement in the international labour market," said Mudavadi.

He further assured Kenyans that the government was working to ensure that Kenyans are well-informed about available job opportunities.

On the issue of high costs and hurdles in securing jobs abroad, Mudavadi explained that the State Department of Immigration has committed to expediting the processing of passports for individuals shortlisted during this exercise.