Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has vowed to continue prioritising residents of Ukambani for foreign job opportunities, brushing off criticism from Members of Parliament who accuse him of discrimination.
Speaking during a boda boda empowerment event in Machakos Town, Mutua said he would return to the region to offer more overseas job placements despite being accused of favouring his community.
“I was summoned to Parliament and told I was favouring Ukambani. I want to tell them Kambas have been left out for the longest. Let me favour Ukambani. The sons and daughters of Ukambani will go abroad to work and send money home,” he said.
Mutua added that he would “sort out Kambas” while also working with President William Ruto to explain government plans for the region.
The CS urged youths to ensure they acquire passports so they can qualify for the foreign job opportunities his ministry is offering.
“All these youths here, ensure you get your passports so that when I come, you can get opportunities easily and we can lift our economic status,” Mutua added.
Last week, Mutua was summoned by the Parliamentary Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers, which accused him of favouring Ukambani residents. The committee claimed the recruitment process for foreign jobs was skewed towards his home counties, raising concerns about fairness, poor communication, and the risk posed by rogue recruitment agencies.
Mutua was pressed to explain why a national exercise conducted between November and December 2024 in six counties was largely concentrated in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui.
