Event

The 8th Kenya Migration and Mobility Working Group meeting

The Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) participated in the 8th Kenya Migration and Mobility Working Group (MMWG) meeting held on 17 March at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi. The meeting brought together government representatives, international partners, recruitment agencies, and the Embassy of the Philippines to discuss ways to strengthen ethical recruitment and enhance protection mechanisms for Kenyan migrant workers.

Key discussions focused on the importance of upholding ethical recruitment standards, including the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) framework developed by International Organization for Migration. Participants also emphasized the need to strengthen governance frameworks and improve coordination among stakeholders involved in labour migration.

The session drew valuable lessons from the Philippines’ labour migration system, particularly in areas such as regulation, worker preparation, and overseas monitoring. These insights provided practical examples of how structured systems can support safer and more transparent migration pathways.

Despite progress, participants highlighted ongoing challenges, including unethical recruitment practices, information gaps, and risks faced by migrant workers at different stages of the migration journey.

MMC extends its appreciation to IOM Kenya for leading the discussion on ethical recruitment, Silver Ray HR for sharing practical perspectives on IRIS certification, the Government of Kenya for insights from the recent study visit to the Philippines, and the Embassy of the Philippines for highlighting best practices in labour migration.

MMC looks forward to continued collaboration with partners to ensure that Kenyan migrant workers are better protected, better prepared, and able to access fair and transparent labour mobility pathways.