Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has disclosed that the country is currently negotiating 19 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Gulf countries. Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, he noted that some of these agreements are more advanced than others.

Advanced Negotiations with Key Gulf Nations

“As we speak, 19 MoUs are being negotiated. We are quite advanced with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, and we have a rescue centre in Saudi Arabia,” Mudavadi said. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to secure resources for establishing additional rescue centres in the Gulf region.

Varied Timelines for MoU Completion

When questioned about the timeline for the completion of these negotiations, Mudavadi explained that the bilateral nature of the agreements means they are at various stages. “This is not just in the Gulf area. In Germany, we are likely to conclude by September,” he added.

Job Opportunities and Skills Policy

Mudavadi highlighted Kenya’s efforts to secure approximately 200,000 job openings in various sectors. He stressed that these opportunities are not limited to laborers, as there is a skills policy in development to include professionals such as doctors and teachers.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with UAE

“In the case of the UAE, we have more or less concluded the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ACEPA), and part of the issues we are addressing are now embedded in that agreement,” he stated.

Progress and Future Outlook

Mudavadi acknowledged the progress made and the challenges faced in negotiating with individual countries. “Each country has its issues, and we try to navigate on a bilateral basis with those individual countries. We will try to accelerate where possible,” he said. Upon the conclusion of the MoUs, the relevant authority will be informed.