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The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) has outlined proposals for an Industrial Training Bill, 2026, to replace the Industrial Training Act of 1959. The draft would expand industrial skills development, certification and quality assurance, and introduce structured preparation for migrant workers before they leave for foreign jobs.
Employment and Labour Relations Court Principal Judge Monica Mbaru said crossing a national boundary should not prevent a worker from pursuing justice.
Mutua said the replacement of workers by AI could create new legal disputes, particularly where employees lose their jobs because their duties have been automated
The Prime CS maintained that the growing movement of Kenyan workers to international labour markets was creating new economic opportunities but also increasing the government's responsibility to protect migrants from exploitation, trafficking and unsafe working conditions
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs says 583 of the Kenyans assisted during the period were victims of human trafficking or smuggling.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, the PS explained that Kenyans who follow the official process undergo several verification stages before leaving the country. These include confirmation that the job offer is genuine, clearance by the Ministry of Labour and registration at the labour desk at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The agreements, signed during the inaugural Kenya–Saudi Arabia Political Consultations Meeting, include a Labour Recruitment and Employment Agreement alongside three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering direct investment, customs cooperation and development financing.
Mudavadi stressed that the government recognises the diaspora as an important development partner and is working to create opportunities that will enable Kenyans abroad to contribute more significantly to the country's economic growth
The government said Mudavadi will push for stronger protections for Kenyan workers and improved labour standards as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the rights and welfare of citizens employed in the Kingdom.
The agreement includes measures intended to combat irregular migration through joint awareness campaigns and closer cooperation between the two countries
NEA Director General Joseph Njue said labour migration continues to provide employment opportunities for many Kenyans while contributing valuable foreign exchange earnings through remittances.
Speaking on Friday during a Radio Generation interview, Muthuma said Kenya has made progress in formalising labour migration, with more young people now securing jobs abroad through regulated channels for both skilled and semi-skilled work.