Former Chief Justice David Maraga has taken a strong stand against the government’s growing labour export program, hours after officials unveiled new job opportunities in Qatar promising monthly pay of up to Ksh200,000.
In a statement released on Thursday, November 20, Maraga vowed to abolish the program if elected President, terming the mass exportation of Kenyan workers as a betrayal of national responsibility. He likened the trend to a modern-day form of slavery that echoes Africa’s painful history.
Maraga argued that leadership should focus on creating opportunities locally rather than encouraging citizens—especially skilled young people—to seek livelihoods abroad.
“Our beloved Africa still lives with the unspoken wounds of losing her children to enslavement centuries ago. The depletion of our best talent seems to be repeating itself in 21st-century Kenya, only packaged as an opportunity for young people,” he said.
He added that his administration would “jealously protect” Kenyans, insisting that government should expand local industries and end corruption instead of “trading off its people to foreign labour markets.”
Maraga’s remarks emerged days after a New York Times exposé detailed cases of abuse and mistreatment of Kenyan workers in Gulf nations, and alleged that recruitment agencies linked to powerful individuals were earning up to $1,000 (about Ksh129,950) for each worker sent abroad.
However, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua dismissed the claims, insisting that Kenyan workers abroad were thriving and earning good money, particularly in Qatar. He highlighted an upcoming opportunity for 100 diploma-level nurses to take up home-care jobs with pay reaching Ksh200,000.
Mutua further revealed that the government expects between 100,000 and 250,000 Kenyans to secure safe, legal employment overseas next year.
President Ruto has previously defended the labour export initiative, noting earlier in October that Qatar had offered 13,000 new job slots for Kenyans. He maintained that the program would equip Kenyans with global skills that will eventually help drive national development.
