Kenya, Italy Sign Migration Deal to Open Legal Jobs for Skilled Workers

By Perez Karisa | July 3, 2026

Kenya and Italy have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration and Mobility aimed at creating structured and legal employment opportunities for Kenyan professionals while strengthening bilateral cooperation on labor migration, worker protection and security.

The agreement was signed by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi during high-level bilateral engagements, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s efforts to expand overseas employment opportunities under the government’s Kazi Majuu programme.

The framework establishes a formal government-to-government partnership designed to facilitate the safe, orderly and regular movement of Kenyan workers into Italy while helping address labor shortages in key sectors of the Italian economy.

Government officials said the agreement seeks to eliminate the risks associated with irregular migration by creating transparent recruitment channels through which qualified Kenyan professionals can access employment opportunities abroad.

Under the new framework, Kenyan workers will be linked to verified employers in Italy through structured placement mechanisms that prioritize fairness, transparency and compliance with labor laws in both countries. The arrangement is expected to benefit professionals across multiple sectors experiencing workforce shortages in Italy.

A major component of the agreement focuses on preparing Kenyan workers before they depart for Italy. The two governments will collaborate on vocational training programmes, language instruction and skills development to ensure prospective employees possess the qualifications and cultural competencies required to integrate successfully into Italian workplaces.

Officials said the pre-departure training will also familiarize workers with Italian labor laws, workplace expectations and social systems, helping ease their transition into employment while enhancing productivity.

The agreement further places significant emphasis on protecting the rights and welfare of Kenyan workers. Both governments committed themselves to implementing ethical recruitment standards and stronger labor safeguards to prevent exploitation, unfair treatment and abuse of migrant workers.

The framework provides for closer cooperation between the two countries in monitoring recruitment practices and ensuring that Kenyan citizens working in Italy receive fair treatment in accordance with international labor standards.

Another key objective of the agreement is tackling irregular migration. Kenya and Italy will jointly conduct public awareness campaigns to educate prospective migrants about the dangers associated with illegal migration routes, human trafficking networks and migrant smuggling operations.

The campaigns are expected to provide accurate information on available legal migration pathways while discouraging individuals from using dangerous and unauthorized routes into Europe.

The MoU also establishes a managed return framework for Kenyan nationals found to be residing in Italy without legal immigration status. Officials said the arrangement prioritizes voluntary return, with both governments agreeing to cooperate in facilitating dignified repatriation processes where necessary.

Alongside the migration agreement, Kenya and Italy also strengthened their security cooperation through the signing of a separate Letter of Intent between Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

The security pact establishes dedicated communication channels between Kenyan and Italian law enforcement agencies to improve intelligence sharing and operational coordination against transnational organized crime.

The cooperation will focus on combating human trafficking, migrant smuggling, organized criminal networks and other cross-border security threats that affect both countries.

Government officials said enhanced collaboration between police agencies will improve investigations, strengthen border security and disrupt criminal organizations that profit from exploiting vulnerable migrants.

The migration partnership is also expected to generate significant economic benefits for Kenya by increasing employment opportunities abroad and boosting diaspora remittances, which remain one of the country’s leading sources of foreign exchange.

Officials noted that expanding access to overseas jobs forms part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle youth unemployment while enhancing household incomes through legal labor migration.

Complementing the new agreement, President William Ruto recently announced a substantial increase in Kenya’s duty-free allowance for personal effects and gifts brought into the country by returning citizens and overseas workers.

The tax-free threshold has been raised from KSh 39,000 to KSh 260,000, a move aimed at easing the financial burden on Kenyans living abroad and encouraging greater investment and economic participation by the diaspora.

The government says the enhanced allowance recognizes the growing contribution of Kenyans working overseas and is intended to support families benefiting from diaspora earnings while strengthening ties between the country and its citizens abroad.

The Kenya-Italy migration partnership represents one of the latest efforts by the government to expand legal labor mobility agreements with international partners, creating safer migration pathways while ensuring that Kenyan workers can access overseas employment opportunities under regulated and protected conditions.