NAIROBI, KENYA – A significant number of young Kenyans are forfeiting lucrative overseas employment opportunities due to failed mandatory drug tests, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has revealed. Speaking in Machakos on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Cabinet Secretary highlighted that substance abuse, particularly cannabis use, is a primary obstacle preventing otherwise qualified candidates from securing visas and travelling for work abroad.

Dr. Mutua's statement addresses growing concerns over delays in the government's 'Kazi Majuu' programme, emphasizing that the issue often lies with the applicants' failure to meet basic health and conduct requirements set by host countries. "No country wants a drug addict or anyone with drugs in their system," Mutua stated at a separate recruitment event earlier in the year. "They are simply not welcome anywhere in the world."

The warning comes as Kenya increasingly relies on its diaspora to bolster its economy. Remittances from Kenyans abroad have become the nation's largest source of foreign exchange, surpassing traditional exports like tea, coffee, and tourism. According to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), cumulative remittances in the 12 months leading up to October 2024 reached USD 4.804 billion, a 15.3% increase from the previous year. This vital economic lifeline supports countless families and helps stabilize the national economy by boosting foreign exchange reserves. The trend of failed drug tests thus poses a direct threat to this crucial income stream.

A Deepening Social and Economic Challenge

The issue flagged by CS Mutua is symptomatic of a broader, well-documented crisis of drug and substance abuse among Kenya's youth. A 2022 national survey by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) found that one in six Kenyans aged 15-65, totaling 4.73 million people, were using at least one substance of abuse. The report highlighted a 90% increase in cannabis use over the preceding five years.

More recent studies in 2025 focusing on universities revealed that 45.6% of students have used at least one drug in their lifetime, with 26.6% being current users of substances including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and khat. This demographic, aged 15-35, represents the core pool of applicants for overseas jobs, linking the high prevalence of substance use directly to the missed employment opportunities abroad.

This challenge is compounded by Kenya's high unemployment rate. The World Bank projected the unemployment rate to rise to 5.7% in 2024, with over a million young people entering the job market annually to compete for a limited number of formal jobs. The government's labour export programme is a key pillar of its strategy to mitigate this domestic job deficit. However, the prevalence of drug use creates a frustrating paradox: as the government secures international job opportunities, a growing number of potential beneficiaries are disqualifying themselves.

Government Response and Regulatory Efforts

In response to the challenges facing the labour export sector, the government has initiated several reforms. CS Mutua noted that the ministry has been cracking down on fraudulent recruitment agencies, having deregistered 600 such entities in the past year to protect job seekers from exploitation. One company accused of defrauding Kenyans has been summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Furthermore, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has moved to streamline the pre-departure process for migrant workers. In September 2024, it announced reforms that included reducing the duration of homecare management training from 26 to 14 days and capping the cost at KSh 14,000 to make it more accessible. These measures are part of a broader strategy to facilitate the deployment of 5,000 to 10,000 Kenyans abroad weekly.

Despite these efforts, the onus remains on individuals to meet the stringent requirements of international employers. CS Mutua urged aspiring migrant workers to ensure their health records are clean and to invest in the necessary skills and training to be competitive. The government's goal to significantly increase the number of Kenyans working abroad hinges not only on securing bilateral agreements but also on addressing the underlying social issues, like drug abuse, that are undermining the potential of its youthful workforce.