Kenyans’ English skills make them globally competitive – Ruto

President William Ruto has defended his administration’s aggressive push to secure employment opportunities for Kenyan youth both locally and abroad, saying Kenyans are among the most skilled and intelligent workers globally.

Speaking in Lamu, Ruto said many Kenyans speak better English than even native speakers from Western countries, a factor he noted has made the country’s workforce highly attractive to foreign employers.

“Kenyans have a high IQ that is recognised across the world. That is why foreigners are always looking for our people to work for them,” Ruto said.

The President explained that this global demand informed his government’s decision to prioritise structured job creation and labour migration as part of its economic strategy.

He said the administration has adopted a non-discriminatory approach to employment, emphasising that all forms of decent work are valuable.

“We agreed that a job is a job. If you get employed in Kenya, at a construction site, online, or elsewhere, we work without discrimination,” he said.

Ruto revealed that his government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, led by Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, has been working to secure legitimate job placements for Kenyans in foreign countries.

He said the initiative is aimed at reducing unemployment while protecting young people from exploitation.

However, the President acknowledged that the process had previously been affected by fraud.

He disclosed that more than 1,000 companies claiming to offer overseas jobs had been shut down after being found to be con operations targeting desperate job seekers.

“We closed down close to 1,000 companies that were scamming our youths in the name of offering jobs abroad,” Ruto said.

To address these challenges, the government has entered into bilateral labour agreements with countries that employ Kenyan workers.

Ruto said the agreements will enable the Kenyan government to monitor and regulate foreign employment opportunities by establishing clear frameworks.

Under the arrangements, authorities will be able to determine the nature of the job, the salary to be paid, and the working conditions offered to each Kenyan worker.

Additionally, Ruto announced that the government will assist qualified individuals who secure jobs abroad but lack funds for travel.

“If someone gets a job abroad and does not have a flight ticket, the government will pay,” he said.

The President said the measures are intended to promote transparency, protect Kenyan workers, and maximise the country’s human capital globally, while offering hope to thousands of unemployed youth seeking better opportunities.