- Diaspora Affairs PS Rosalyn Njogu has launched the ‘Kazi Majuu’ football tournament in Meru County to create awareness about local and overseas job opportunities.
- The initiative combines sports talent development with youth empowerment, skills acquisition and safe labour migration.
- More than 530,000 young Kenyans have secured employment through the Kazi Majuu programme over the past three and a half years.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Rosalyn Njogu has officially launched the ‘Kazi Majuu’ football tournament to create awareness among young people about employment opportunities available both locally and abroad.
Speaking at Mitoone Primary School in Buuri Constituency, Meru County, the PS said the Government is committed to ensuring that young people receive timely information about available job opportunities in Kenya and overseas.
She said more than 530,000 young Kenyans have benefited from the Kazi Majuu programme over the past three and a half years and urged more youth to embrace the initiative.
Using sports to empower youth
Njogu said the football tournament targets women and youth aged below 25 years and seeks to combine sports with career awareness and skills development.
“I urge the youth to embrace the programme because it has many benefits both locally and abroad. Kazi Majuu, which literally means jobs abroad, will allow young people to exchange ideas, acquire skills and abstain from drug and substance abuse, among other social vices,” she said.
She added that the tournament had attracted about 60 teams from across Buuri Sub-county.
According to the PS, the competition provides a platform for young people to nurture their talents, interact with one another and remain engaged in productive activities that discourage drug abuse and other negative behaviours.
Winning teams will receive footballs and playing kits.
Creating global opportunities
Njogu said the initiative enjoys the full support of President William Ruto’s administration.
She noted that the Government is exploring ways of exporting sporting talent abroad in the same manner it facilitates overseas employment opportunities.
“We want to sensitise the youth that even if your talent is local, it has global opportunities,” she said.
The PS explained that the tournament also sensitises residents on how to apply safely for overseas employment through approved recruitment agencies while working closely with the Ministry of Labour and the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
“They will engage with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Ministry of Labour to ensure safe labour migration. More than 530,000 people have secured jobs through the Kazi Majuu initiative over the last three and a half years,” she said.
She added that Kenyans working abroad remitted more than KSh500 billion last year, compared with approximately KSh400 billion in 2022, demonstrating the programme’s growing impact.
Tournament results
The PS presided over the men’s and women’s finals held at Mitoone Primary School.
In the girls’ final, Gundua Starlets defeated Kironya Starlets 1-0, while Sirimon FC edged Christian FC 1-0 in the men’s final.
Njogu announced that the football tournament will be rolled out across the country.
Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri welcomed the Kazi Majuu initiative, saying it offers young people valuable employment opportunities.
He said he intends to help recruit at least 250 young people from his constituency into the programme.
MP Mugambi also encouraged the youth to register for national identity documents and passports to position themselves for overseas employment opportunities.
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“I challenge the youth to register in order to benefit. President Ruto cares for the youth. That is why I urge you to join the initiative and nurture your talents,” he said.
By John Majau
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