Kenya to send 1,500 farm workers to Israel

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - In a bid to bolster economic cooperation and enhance bilateral ties, the Kenyan government on Thursday announced its intention to send 1,500 casual farm laborers to Israel to engage in agricultural activities.

The announcement came a day after a bilateral meeting between Kenyan officials and an Israeli delegation held at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection in the capital Nairobi.

Shadrack Mwadime, the principal secretary for labor, met with Rami Cohen, the managing director of Guri Avocados, who led the team of Israeli farmers and investors.

"These opportunities number about 1,500 with a guaranteed net income of 228,000 Kenya shillings (roughly $1,500) per month, on 3 years renewable contracts," he said.

This move is part of a broader effort to foster collaboration between the two nations in the agricultural sector.

The employment contracts are set for a three-year term, with the possibility of renewal.

The initiative is expected to benefit both nations, contributing to the exchange of agricultural expertise and promoting economic development, according to the Kenyan government.

Kenya's announcement is aligned with a growing trend in African countries, spurred by Malawi's decision to send 5,000 young people to Israel as workers.

Last month, Malawi initially dispatched around 220 people to Israel, with plans to significantly increase this number.

Wezi Kayira, principal secretary of the Labor Ministry in Malawi, emphasized that labor exportation to different nations, including Israel, serves as a means to generate employment opportunities for the youth and contribute to the generation of foreign exchange for the country in southeastern Africa, which has a population of 20 million.

The move comes amid conflicts between Israel and Palestine, which resulted in the evacuation of thousands of Thai workers from Israel.

The Israeli Agriculture Ministry reported that 30,000 to 40,000 farm workers have departed, with half of them being Palestinians prevented from entering Israel from the occupied West Bank since the conflict began on Oct. 7.

Facing challenges in securing foreign labor, Israel has actively sought collaboration with African nations. However, Malawian rights groups and local politicians have criticized their government's agreement, expressing concerns about the lack of adequate security provisions for its citizens participating in this labor initiative.