Qatar to Hire 13K Kenyans and Open Visa Centre in Nairobi After Ruto’s Visit
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President William Ruto’s visit to Qatar has delivered a major boost for Kenyan job seekers, with 13,000 new employment opportunities secured for Kenyans. The deal will raise the total number of Kenyans working in the Gulf nation to nearly 90,000 by 2026.
According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the agreement also includes the establishment of a Qatari Visa Centre in Nairobi by early 2026 to simplify the recruitment process, eliminate rogue employment agencies, and enhance the protection of Kenyan migrant workers.
On his official X account, President Ruto confirmed the progress made during a side meeting at the United Nations Social Development Summit in Doha with Qatar’s Labour Minister, Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri.
“We welcome Qatar’s offer of 13,000 new job opportunities in various skill categories for our workers. This will increase the Kenyan workforce in Qatar to about 90,000, giving more of our young people access to global employment, competitive earnings, and pathways to uplift their families and communities while contributing to national growth,” said Ruto.
How Will the Visa Centre Protect Kenyan Workers?
The planned visa centre will streamline worker movement between the two countries while closing loopholes that have allowed illegal recruitment and exploitation. President Ruto emphasized that the centre will help ensure fair treatment and better oversight.
“Together, we agreed to operationalise a Qatari Visa Centre in Nairobi in early 2026. This milestone will streamline the movement of Kenyan workers to Qatar, eliminate past bottlenecks, and strengthen oversight to safeguard our citizens from rogue recruitment practices,” he said.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to protect Kenyans working abroad, ensuring safe, dignified, and beneficial labour migration.
What Other Deals Did Kenya and Qatar Sign?
During the high-profile visit, President Ruto and Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties. One of the highlights was the Kenya Airways–Qatar Airways partnership, which aims to enhance air connectivity, tourism, and trade between the two nations.
The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority and the Qatar Financial Centre, a move designed to attract more investment and position Nairobi as a competitive regional financial hub.
Qatar expressed interest in expanding its investments in Kenya’s agriculture, infrastructure, water, manufacturing, ICT, and finance sectors. Among the key projects discussed was participation in Kenya’s mega-dam programme, which targets the irrigation of over two million acres of land to boost food security and agricultural productivity.
In addition, the Gulf nation is exploring opportunities through Kenya’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and National Infrastructure Fund, both intended to mobilize capital for large-scale development in energy, transport, and industrial projects.
While in Doha, President Ruto also met with members of the Kenyan diaspora, assuring them of continued reforms aimed at improving their welfare. He announced plans to introduce a diaspora bond, improve passport services, reduce remittance costs, and tighten regulation of labour recruitment agencies to curb exploitation.
By Lucky Anyanje
