By Emmanuel Nduka
Kenya and Canada have teamed up with initiatives to promote safe and legal migration for Kenyan workers, ensuring a secure and productive experience abroad.
The collaborative effort, aimed at reducing irregular migration and preventing human trafficking, was officially launched by Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime.
The initiative is designed to support Kenyan job seekers in securing safe employment opportunities abroad, while fostering positive contributions to both nations’ economies.
Mwadime highlighted the long-standing diplomatic ties between Kenya and Canada, which have been in place since 1964, and stressed the importance of well-structured migration policies for protecting the rights of Kenyan migrant workers.
“Safe, regular, orderly, and productive labour migration is now a policy priority for the Government of Kenya,” Mwadime stated, emphasizing the need to safeguard Kenyan workers’ rights abroad.
Despite Kenya’s efforts to promote safe migration, many job seekers remain vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous recruitment agencies and online fraud, particularly in the Middle East. There have been numerous reports of Kenyans falling victim to abuse, exploitation, and even death due to fraudulent recruitment practices.
In response, the government introduced the Labour Migration Management Bill, which includes strict measures against fraudulent recruiters, with penalties including legal prosecution. In 2024, the Ministry of Labour banned 26 recruitment agencies for unethical practices.
“The government is fully committed to combating unethical recruitment and irregular migration,” Mwadime affirmed. “We have also set up two Labour Migration Desks at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Mombasa’s Moi International Airport to ensure all pre-departure procedures are followed.”
Furthermore, the National Employment Authority (NEA) now thoroughly vets and registers Private Employment Agencies (PEAs). As of February 2025, 613 PEAs have been officially registered after undergoing rigorous scrutiny by a multi-agency committee. Job seekers can verify legitimate agencies through the NEAIMS.go.ke website or by visiting NEA county offices.
Kenya has also partnered with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to train agencies on the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS), ensuring ethical recruitment standards. Notably, Kenya is the first African country to have a recruitment agency attain IRIS certification in January 2025.
Canada, a top destination for Kenyan job seekers, is also a major contributor to Kenya’s remittance inflows. The High Commission of Canada has actively shared information about job opportunities, particularly in the healthcare, construction, and food processing sectors.
Mwadime expressed hope for further cooperation on labour mobility between Kenya and Canada’s provincial governments and employers, aiming to foster mutually beneficial opportunities.
To further protect migrant workers, the Ministry of Labour continues to conduct public awareness campaigns about legal migration pathways and available job opportunities abroad, Mwadime noted.
He added that Kenyans seeking employment are encouraged to verify job offers through the National Employment Authority and demand proof of approval from recruitment agencies to avoid falling victim to fraud.
