Last minute rush: Qatar jobs recruitment lapses as over 20,000 Kenyans submit applications

Kenyans on Monday made their last-minute rush to submit their applications for the highly coveted job opportunities in the Middle East as the exercise lapsed.

The four-day recruitment exercise attracted about 20,000 Kenyans who turned up for interviews at different stations in Nairobi as they competed for only 8,000 available positions.

Interviews were being conducted by officials from the Middle Eastern company seeking workers across hospitality and service, construction, and technical industries.

 Simon Karanja's struggle to make ends meet since graduating as an electrical engineer 3 years ago forced him to acquire a diverse skill set which he says ended up being his blessing in disguise during his interview.

"There are no jobs and we are struggling to make ends meet. Right now you are not guaranteed to earn anything today you get something tomorrow you do not. But after all, God has helped us and we have passed," he said.

" I do any kind of job not just electrical deals, I also lay tiles because you cannot just sit there without doing anything. You must be ready to do what you have not studied for."

Daniel Githuka could not hide his joy after passing the interviews saying that he had arrived at the station on Sunday night but was told to return on Monday.

During the four-day recruitment exercise, most applicants were however rejected for lack of the necessary practical skills.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has noted that successful candidates will have their airfare catered for.

Mutua told Citizen TV on Sunday that the unnamed Qatari company will cater for the ‘big costs’ of Kenyan workers’ relocation process such as air tickets and accommodation.

“The Qatari people said they do not want to pay 100% (of the expenses) for workers. From their experience, if a worker pays nothing, they have nothing to lose and after three months they might say they are tired and want to go home,” he said.

Applicants will have to sort themselves on passport application costs.