The government is preparing to roll out a new digital platform designed to protect Kenyan youth seeking employment opportunities overseas, following a troubling rise in cases involving fraudulent recruitment agencies.
The platform, dubbed the Labour Mobility Management Information System (LMMIS), will serve as a central tool for tracking and supporting Kenyan migrant workers, starting with those headed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The initiative follows a high-level consultative forum held in Dubai, where Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) CEO Moriasia Rabu and Credit Manager Sam Njue met with Kenya’s Consul General. Their discussions focused on creating a more structured, safer process for guiding young Kenyans into international job markets.
Key stakeholders from the State Departments of Diaspora Affairs, Labour, and Youth Affairs, as well as private recruitment firms and local bank representatives, attended the meeting. A key outcome was the agreement to launch LMMIS, a centralized digital system that will allow the government to monitor the welfare, status, and movements of Kenyan workers abroad.
The LMMIS aims to streamline documentation, track employment contracts, and provide real-time insights into the well-being of Kenyan workers. It is also expected to help identify and address issues such as exploitation, mistreatment, or illegal recruitment practices.
YEDF CEO Moriasia Rabu lauded the move as a game-changer for Kenya’s labour migration landscape, noting that it would enhance accountability and data coordination at a time when growing numbers of youth are looking beyond Kenyan borders for jobs.
As part of the initiative, officials also agreed to strengthen pre-departure orientation programs. These sessions will prepare young people for life abroad by educating them on their legal rights, workplace expectations, personal safety, and cultural differences – essential tools to reduce vulnerability and ease their integration into foreign environments.
The delegation also called for stronger partnerships with reliable human resource consultants and reputable employers, especially in the UAE. These collaborations aim to ensure job placements remain ethical, lawful, and aligned with international labour standards.
The government will implement LMMIS in phases, using the UAE as a pilot country. Once successfully tested, the system will expand to other key labour destinations where many Kenyan youth continue to seek employment.
