Hundreds of Kenyans gathered at Kabete National Polytechnic, eager to secure one of the 10,000 Qatar jobs, announced by the government.
The job openings are the result of a partnership between Kenya and a Qatar-based company. Labor Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua confirmed the opportunities and expressed optimism about the potential benefits for the country.
However, many applicants for the Qatar jobs voiced concerns about the recruitment process. Samir Muhammad reports that some candidates raised issues regarding the transparency of the procedures, while others noted gender inequality in the recruitment process.
“The process is not very transparent,” said Ambrose Naga, a civil engineering graduate from the Technical University of Kenya.
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“You fill out forms, then go for an interview, and after that, agents come and tell you about commission charges, some as high as 300,000 or 400,000 shillings. It’s something I cannot afford, so to me, it feels like a waste of time.”
Naga, who was attempting to secure a position for the second time, had previously been offered a civil supervisor role after passing the competitive interview, only to be asked for a hefty payment to secure the job. “If they bring up the issue of charges again, I’ll just run away,” he said.
Female job seekers also faced disappointment at the recruitment event. Many were turned away by recruiters, who informed them that the hiring company was not looking to hire female workers.
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“I was expecting something for me, and now it’s just disappointing,” one of the rejected women expressed, clearly disheartened by the turn of events.
On the other hand, some successful applicants were overjoyed to have secured positions and urged the government to ensure that no additional fees would be charged, as promised.
“We really hope that the government will keep its promise,” one excited job seeker said. As the process continues, many remain hopeful that their dream of working abroad will come true, despite the challenges faced by others.
