Kenya has entered a memorandum of understanding with Canada‑based Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) to match qualified Kenyan workers, including refugees, with Canadian employers.

The MoU aims to create safe, regular and ethical migration routes through employer engagement, skills matching and migration support.

The signing was led by Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, alongside Canadian High Commissioner Joshua Tabah and TBB CEO Lara Dyer.

Mwadime highlighted that the deal was concluded in under a year and called for swift action to enable Kenyan youth to enter the Canadian labour market.

He said the partnership will curb exploitation of Kenyan job seekers by ensuring overseas recruitment follows orderly, protected processes.

TBB pledged to monitor recruited workers after placement to safeguard their rights and welfare.

The government plans to turn selected educational institutions into recruitment centres, linking training directly to overseas job opportunities and reducing reliance on unregulated agencies.

The National Employment Authority has cut the number of accredited recruitment agencies by about half, with the remaining agencies receiving capacity‑building support from the International Labour Organisation.

Dyer noted that the agreement will open international employment options for skilled refugees residing in Kenya as well as Kenyan youth.

The MoU follows a September delegation led by Mwadime to Canada, which met stakeholders such as the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick to explore labour market needs.

It adds to Kenya’s broader labour‑mobility strategy, which already includes a bilateral agreement with Germany and an MoU with Italy to expand decent overseas employment.