Kenya and Qatar are in talks that could see Kenyan security agents deployed to Doha to help secure the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i said he was in talks with his counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, who is also the Qatari Prime Minister and that an agreement has been reached in principle.
“In principle, we agreed with my Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Qatar that Kenya could provide security personnel to support the Supreme Committee on Delivery and Legacy of Qatar in providing security services during the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar,” the CS said.
Matiang’i said the security deal dominated bilateral talks during his September 2021 trip to Doha, Qatar.
The FIFA World Cup will be held between November 21 and December 18 next year.
The CS who spoke during the celebrations to mark Qatar National Day that was hosted by Qatari Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Jabor bin Ali AL-Dosari, said Nairobi and Doha were also in talks to operationalize the Qatar Visa Centre in Nairobi.
The Visa centre is to expedite services including to the over 37,000 Kenyans working in the Gulf State.
The centre will not only expedite the processing of travel documents but will also come in handy in the maintenance of an updated database of Diaspora workers.