Tuesday, August 25, 2026 (NAIROBI)__The Government of Kenya through State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Athari Global Workforce Solutions (AGWS) to expand structured, ethical employment pathways for Kenyan professionals in Canada’s special care and support sectors.

The MoU, signed by Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary, Ms. Roseline Kathure Njogu, CBS, and the founder and CEO of AGWS, Mr. Deepak Soni, builds on a Letter of Intent first executed in February 2026 and formalizes a training-to-employment pipeline that has already placed 46 Kenyan workers in accredited Canadian care facilities.

The initiative is anchored under the Government’s Muuguzi Majuu Programme, which promotes safe, orderly and skills-based labour mobility.

Athari Global Workforce Solutions-Athariglobal.com, is a social enterprise established to support adults and youth with special needs in various regions in Canada. The partnership responds to Canada’s growing shortage of developmental Service Workers while creating international employment opportunities for qualified Kenyans in social work, healthcare, psychology, behavioral sciences and disability support.

Speaking ahead of the signing, Principal Secretary Ms. Roseline Kathure Njogu said the MoU marks a shift to a structured, accountable partnership that prioritizes worker welfare, skills enhancement and long-term career growth.

“This collaboration demonstrates how labour mobility can be a win-win for both Kenya and our international partners. We are not just sending workers abroad; we are preparing them with globally competitive skills, protecting their rights, and ensuring they become ambassadors of Kenyan talent,” PS Njogu said.

Under the MoU, candidates will undergo prerequisite training in Kenya to align their qualifications with Canadian industry standards. The programme includes internationally recognized certifications, cultural and workplace orientation, and pre and post-arrival support to ease integration into the Canadian labour market.

SDDA has already facilitated engagements between AGWS and Kenyan training institutions, including the University of Nairobi’s Department of Psychology, the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), USIU and Kenyatta University, to strengthen candidate screening, curriculum alignment and training delivery.

The Government has emphasized that the MoU strengthens safeguards across the migration cycle, covering recruitment, selection, training, employment conditions, placement, worker welfare and post-arrival support. It also reinforces Kenya’s broader strategy of transforming labour mobility from “brain drain” to “skills circulation,” where diaspora professionals gain international experience and contribute to national development through knowledge transfer, investment and mentorship.

Present in the meeting were Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi, Secretary for Diaspora Welfare and Partnerships; Ms. Edel Nakutenga, Director Services at Athari Global; Ms. Irene Karari, Director in the Office of the PS; Ms. Mary Kemunto, Director of the Human Resources Management and Development, Ms. Polly Maingi, Head of Accounts Unit, among others.