BY NYAKWAR OMUOMBO: South East Alego Member of County Assembly (MCA) Scholastica Madowo has called on young job seekers to overcome their fears of working in the Middle East, assuring them that new government protection measures have made overseas labor opportunities both safe and reliable.

Speaking during a recruitment exercise for the “Kazi Majuu” (Diaspora Jobs) initiative, Madowo directly addressed the persistent anxieties surrounding employment in the Gulf region.

While acknowledging past negative reports involving the mistreatment or death of Kenyan workers, she urged local youth not to let paralyzing fear keep them trapped in severe poverty.

She emphasized that if leaders remain idle while families live in hopelessness, they are doing the community a disservice, maintaining that she would not take a risk with local youth if she were not convinced the environment was safe.

The initiative aims to recruit 200 young women and at least 50 men for a variety of roles, ranging from domestic work to technical jobs in driving, security, and construction.

To lower the barrier to entry, domestic positions are fully funded, while technical roles feature bank financing options to cover placement commissions.

To guarantee worker safety, Madowo confirmed that all recruitment is handled through verified agencies.

Every applicant’s details will be entered into a centralized database managed by the Department of Labour and shared directly with Kenyan embassies in destination countries for continuous tracking and support.

The drive has drawn strong interest from residents looking for a fresh start. Pauline Akinyi, a 29-year-old resident who returned home in June after working in Saudi Arabia, shared a positive experience with a supportive host family, explaining that her overseas income allowed her to support her siblings and children.

She advised prospective workers to prepare for the cultural shift and learn the basics of the local language. For applicants like Daniel Waringa Mboya, a father of three seeking a driving role after months of fruitless job hunting at home, the program offers a vital lifeline.

The first group of successful applicants is expected to travel once interviews, passport processing, and routine background checks are finalized.