
Kenya is sending 1,500 farm workers to Israel, the labor ministry has said.
The announcement comes nearly two weeks after Malawi sent 221 youths to work in Israeli farms, prompting criticism of the government.
The regular workers will be sent on renewable three-year contracts, “with a guaranteed income” of $1,500 (£1,195 equivalent to 230k Sh), the labor ministry added.
Israel has turned to Africa to fill the huge labor gap on its farms, after the mass exodus of foreign workers.
More than 10,000 migrant farm workers – mostly Thai nationals – have left Israel since the start of the war with Hamas in early October.
Israel has also barred Palestinian workers, who made up about 20% of the agricultural workforce before the war.
Israel’s agriculture ministry told CNN last week that it needs between 30,000 and 40,000 farm workers.
The announcement has created mixed reactions in Kenya, with some fearing for the safety of the workers.
At least 32 farm workers from Thailand were killed and several others taken hostage when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
Critics have also questioned the conditions the workers will face in Israel.
Human rights groups like Human Rights Watch have previously expressed concern about Israel’s treatment of foreign farm workers.
Israel denied saying that foreign workers have the same employment rights as Israeli citizens.
Some Kenyans have supported the program saying it provides much needed jobs at a time when Kenya is facing the problem of unemployment and rising cost of living.
Kenya has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, according to the World Bank.