Kenya has taken a major step toward expanding safe and ethical overseas employment opportunities for its citizens after entering into a new partnership aimed at strengthening labour mobility in the care sector. The move is expected to open structured pathways for Kenyan professionals to access jobs abroad while safeguarding their rights and skills.
The development follows the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Government of Kenya and Athari Global, a diaspora-owned firm based in Canada, to advance the Muuguzi Majuu Programme.
The agreement formalizes a strategic partnership focused on disability support services, a sector with growing demand in the Canadian labour market.
The signing ceremony was led by Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu on behalf of the government and Athari Global Chief Executive Officer Deepak Soni.
Under the initiative, Kenyan professionals will be trained locally in disability support services before being placed with accredited employers in Canada.
“The initiative is designed to be a model of ethical labour mobility,” the statement said, emphasizing that the programme prioritizes “safe, ethical and orderly labor mobility through skills development, technology transfer and capacity building.”
It also seeks to establish “clear and regulated mobility pathways for Kenyan workers in the Canadian care economy.”
The Letter of Intent lays the groundwork for a detailed Memorandum of Understanding, which will outline the programme’s implementation, governance, and accountability frameworks.
Officials say this structure is critical to ensuring worker protection, skills recognition, and mutual benefit for Kenya, the diaspora, and host countries.
A pilot phase has already demonstrated the programme’s viability. About 30 Kenyan trainees were enrolled in disability support services, with 19 currently deployed and “successfully working in Canada,” providing what the government described as strong proof of concept.
The initiative aligns with Kenya’s broader labour mobility agenda, which aims to expand access to international job markets while protecting workers from exploitation.
“The expected scaling of the Muuguzi Majuu Programme signals a future where thousands of Kenyan health and care professionals can access international opportunities that honor their expertise and protect their well-being,” the statement noted.
Beyond employment, officials say the programme will contribute to socio-economic growth through skills transfer and capacity building upon workers’ return.
