Kenya Signs Agreement With Canadian Firm to Send Healthcare Workers Abroad
The Kenyan government has signed a new agreement with a diaspora-owned Canadian firm in a move set to expand overseas employment opportunities for local healthcare workers, particularly nurses and disability support professionals.
The agreement, signed through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, takes the form of a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Athari Global, a Canada-based company owned by Kenyans in the diaspora. The partnership aims to establish structured and sustainable pathways for Kenyan healthcare workers to access employment opportunities within Canada’s health sector under the Muuguzi Majuu programme.
Speaking after the signing, Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu said the agreement would strengthen labour mobility frameworks while ensuring Kenyan professionals are adequately trained and supported before deployment abroad.
“The letter of intent signed with Athari Global will create structured pathways for healthcare labour mobility, supporting Kenyans seeking work in Canada’s health sector,” Njogu said.
According to the State Department, Athari Global currently has 30 Kenyan participants enrolled in the programme. Of these, 19 have already secured employment in Canada, while the remaining participants are at various stages of training, certification, and recruitment.
The Muuguzi Majuu initiative was launched two years ago as a pilot programme aimed at responding to global healthcare workforce shortages while opening up safe and legal migration opportunities for Kenyan healthcare workers. Since its inception, the programme has steadily expanded, with participants progressing through targeted training and employer matching processes.
Under the partnership, Athari Global has developed a specialised training curriculum focusing on disability support work, a sector experiencing high demand in Canada. Upon completion of training, participants are linked directly with Canadian employers seeking skilled and qualified healthcare professionals.
Officials from the State Department of Diaspora Affairs noted that the new agreement seeks to formalise labour mobility pathways that were previously fragmented, ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and protection for Kenyan workers abroad.
“This partnership allows us to structure the process better so that Kenyans are not only placed in jobs but are also supported before, during, and after their transition,” a senior official from the department said.
The government also indicated that it will closely monitor the progress of programme participants—informally referred to as “Atharites”—and provide regular updates on outcomes through official communication channels. This oversight is intended to ensure quality standards are maintained while safeguarding the welfare of Kenyan workers overseas.
The initiative forms part of Kenya’s broader labour migration strategy, which positions overseas employment as a tool for economic growth, skills transfer, and increased remittances. According to government data, remittances from the Kenyan diaspora remain one of the country’s leading sources of foreign exchange.
Beyond economic benefits, officials say the programme is also designed to enhance the global competitiveness of Kenyan healthcare workers by exposing them to international standards, advanced healthcare systems, and diverse working environments.
The government expressed optimism that the partnership with Athari Global will not only expand job opportunities for Kenyan nurses and healthcare workers but also strengthen bilateral cooperation between Kenya and Canada in workforce development and skills exchange.
As global demand for healthcare professionals continues to rise, authorities say similar partnerships may be explored in other countries facing labour shortages, positioning Kenya as a key source of trained and globally competitive healthcare talent.
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Kenya Signs Agreement With Canadian Firm to Send Healthcare Workers Abroad
