Nairobi: Learning institutions across the country have been challenged to align their programmes with global labour market demands by introducing courses and skills that can prepare learners for employment opportunities abroad. Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said schools and colleges should embrace globally competitive programmes, including the teaching of foreign languages, to equip learners with skills required in international job markets.
According to Kenya News Agency, Chirchir emphasized the importance of globalization and labour mobility during a thanksgiving ceremony at Kabarnet Boys Senior School in Baringo County. He noted that these factors have created vast employment opportunities for qualified professionals in foreign countries. He urged educational institutions to prepare learners from an early stage by introducing international languages and specialized programmes to enhance their competitiveness in overseas job markets.
Chirchir highlighted specific countries like Dubai, Singapore, America, China, and France, where job opportunities are abundant. He stressed the need for learning institutions to produce professionals proficient in at least one foreign language. The Cabinet Secretary observed the significant role diaspora employment opportunities play in supporting Kenya’s economy through remittances sent home by Kenyans working abroad.
He pointed out that labour export has become a leading source of foreign exchange earnings for the country, with thousands of Kenyans securing jobs globally and supporting their families through regular remittances. ‘Kenyans who work in various overseas countries always send the proceeds they get to their families in different parts of this country. In this way, they are helping to grow our economy,’ he said.
Chirchir noted that diaspora remittances have grown steadily, increasing from more than Sh400 billion in 2022 to over Sh600 billion in 2025, showcasing the growing contribution of Kenyans working abroad to the national economy. He attributed this growth to government efforts aimed at expanding access to overseas employment opportunities and connecting Kenyan professionals to global labour markets.
The Cabinet Secretary mentioned the establishment of a State Department for Diaspora Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs under the Kenya Kwanza administration as a commitment to labour mobility. This department is tasked with coordinating diaspora opportunities and facilitating job placements for Kenyan professionals seeking employment abroad.
Chirchir encouraged students by assuring them of a bright future with both national and global opportunities. He commended Kabarnet Boys Senior School for its programmes that prepare learners for emerging opportunities locally and internationally. He cited aviation studies, drawing and design, and the teaching of French and German languages as examples of programmes that enhance students’ competitiveness.
He praised the school’s achievements over the last eight years, aligning with the government’s agenda of connecting Kenyan professionals to global job markets. Chirchir described the school as an important center for human capital development, urging continued investment in innovative programmes.
Highlighting the school’s rich history, Chirchir noted that Kenya’s second President, the late Daniel arap Moi, taught there and later served as chairman of its Board of Management for four decades. Other notable alumni include former Education Permanent Secretary Benjamin Kipkulei, former National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani, Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States and Costa Rica David Kiplagat, Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi, and former Director of the Kenya School of Government Isaac Chebon.
French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet also spoke at the event, commending the school for incorporating French language studies into its curriculum. The ambassador donated French language books to support learning and pledged continued collaboration with the institution, including potential exchange programmes for students pursuing French studies.
