The Kenyan government has unveiled plans to introduce a new digital system aimed at safeguarding youth seeking employment opportunities overseas. The move comes amid a growing number of reports involving fraudulent recruitment agencies and exploitation of migrant workers, particularly in popular labour destination countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The New Labour Mobility Management Information System (LMMIS)
Dubbed the Labour Mobility Management Information System (LMMIS), the initiative seeks to centralize data, monitor Kenyan workers abroad, and streamline processes related to foreign job placements. The system will initially focus on Kenya’s labour migration to the UAE before expanding to other countries with large numbers of Kenyan migrant workers.
The decision was announced following a high-level consultative forum in Dubai. The meeting brought together stakeholders including Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) CEO Moriasia Rabu, YEDF Credit Manager Sam Njue, Kenya’s Consul General in Dubai, officials from the State Departments of Diaspora Affairs, Labour, and Youth Affairs, representatives from local banks, and private recruitment agencies.
Why LMMIS Is Needed
Kenya has in recent years witnessed a rise in cases where young people are defrauded by fake recruitment agencies promising lucrative jobs abroad. Many end up stranded, exploited, or working in poor conditions with no support structure to turn to.
YEDF CEO Moriasia Rabu emphasized the importance of LMMIS in addressing these challenges:
“The Labour Mobility Management Information System will go a long way in improving data coordination, enhancing accountability, and safeguarding the welfare of Kenyan youth seeking employment abroad,” said Rabu.
The platform is expected to track Kenyan job seekers from the point of application to employment and throughout their work tenure overseas. It will also help ensure that documentation, such as contracts and visas, are processed transparently and efficiently.
Orientation and Pre-departure Training
Besides implementing the LMMIS, stakeholders agreed on the need to strengthen pre-departure orientation programs for youth. These sessions will prepare job seekers with vital knowledge about their rights, workplace expectations, personal safety, and the legal frameworks governing their employment abroad.
The programs aim to reduce instances of exploitation and to equip young Kenyans with tools for better adjustment and success in foreign work environments.
Partnerships for Ethical Recruitment
The consultative forum also highlighted the need for stronger partnerships with credible human resource consultants and employers in destination countries, starting with the UAE. The goal is to create ethical recruitment pathways that comply with international labour standards and protect the dignity of Kenyan migrant workers.
Phased Rollout of LMMIS
The rollout of the LMMIS will be gradual. The UAE will serve as the pilot country due to its popularity among Kenyan job seekers. Once the system is successfully implemented in the UAE, it will be expanded to cover other major labour destination markets, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and European countries.
According to officials, this phased approach will allow for necessary adjustments and improvements to the system before full-scale deployment.
Government Support Through Youth Fund and Uwezo Fund
The launch of the LMMIS coincides with ongoing efforts by the government to provide financial support for job seekers pursuing employment abroad.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua recently confirmed that 130 youth benefited from the Youth Fund in May 2025 to facilitate their migration for work. The CS further revealed that an additional 300 Kenyans are expected to benefit from a pilot project under the Uwezo Fund, designed to help job seekers cover costs associated with securing lawful and ethical employment abroad.
Mutua praised these efforts as part of a broader government strategy to provide structured, safe, and beneficial labour migration opportunities for Kenyan youth.
“We want to ensure that our young people access overseas jobs in a way that is dignified, safe, and beneficial to them and the country at large,” Mutua said during a recent address.
Looking Ahead
With the LMMIS in place, the government hopes to restore public confidence in labour migration processes and reduce the risk of Kenyan youth falling prey to unscrupulous recruiters. The system is also expected to provide accurate data for policy development and resource allocation in support of labour migration.
Labour rights groups have welcomed the government’s plan but called for the speedy implementation of the system and strict enforcement of penalties against fake recruitment agents.
As the LMMIS project begins its phased implementation, all eyes will be on how effectively the government can deliver on its promise to protect the rights and welfare of Kenyans working abroad.