DOHA, Qatar — President William Ruto’s three-day official visit to Qatar has yielded significant bilateral and economic gains for Kenya, including 13,000 new job opportunities, new investment partnerships, and a major step toward strengthening labour mobility and trade between Nairobi and Doha.
During the trip, held on the sidelines of the United Nations Social Development Summit, President Ruto and Qatar’s Labour Minister Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri agreed to operationalise a Qatari Visa Centre in Nairobi by early 2026.
The facility will streamline the recruitment process, eliminate delays, and protect Kenyan workers from exploitation by rogue recruitment agencies.
The new agreement will raise the number of Kenyan workers in Qatar to about 90,000, expanding opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled youth in sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, and construction.
“We are committed to expanding quality job opportunities for our young people through the Labour Mobility Programme, helping them acquire global experience and expertise that they ultimately bring back home to support Kenya’s development,” President Ruto said.
The visit also reaffirmed the Kenya Airways–Qatar Airways partnership, aimed at boosting air connectivity, tourism, and trade between the two countries.
Additionally, the President witnessed the signing of a cooperation deal between the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority and the Qatar Financial Centre, designed to attract Qatari investment and position Nairobi as a leading regional financial hub.
In a separate meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President Ruto secured commitments for Doha to explore large-scale investments in agriculture, infrastructure, water, manufacturing, ICT, and finance.
Qatar is particularly keen on participating in Kenya’s mega-dam irrigation programme, targeting two million acres of land for cultivation, as well as investing through the Sovereign Wealth Fund and National Infrastructure Fund, both established to mobilise capital for transformative national projects.
Ruto also engaged with the Kenyan diaspora in Doha, pledging the introduction of a diaspora bond, faster passport services, lower remittance costs, and stricter regulation of labour agencies to safeguard workers abroad.
At the UN Social Development Summit, where he spoke on behalf of the Africa Group, the President called for urgent UN reforms, debt relief, and digital inclusion, urging the global community to embrace fairer economic systems that empower developing nations.
He also highlighted Kenya’s progress in education, housing, healthcare, and job creation under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The Qatar visit, analysts note, cements Nairobi’s growing role as a key partner in the Gulf region, with a focus on mutually beneficial economic diplomacy and inclusive development.
