Govt to Roll Out Labor Migration Services Across Huduma Centers
Nairobi, Kenya
The government is taking bold steps to streamline and decentralize labor migration services by integrating them into the Huduma Centre network, in a move aimed at improving access and service delivery for Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad.
The plan, spearheaded by the National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers, was unveiled during an engagement with the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) on Tuesday, April 22. The initiative proposes transforming Huduma Centres into one-stop shops for labor migration services, a shift that would bring services closer to Kenyans across the country.
Decentralization to Enhance Service Delivery for Migrant Workers
Currently, labor migration services are limited to select locations, including a pilot center at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The proposal seeks to replicate and expand this model across the existing 58 Huduma Centers located in Kenya’s 47 counties, ensuring equitable access for all citizens.
MPs behind the initiative are set to engage stakeholders and visit the JKIA facility to benchmark best practices and fine-tune the rollout strategy. The decentralization plan is part of a broader policy to support Kenya’s growing labor export programme, popularly referred to as kazi majuu, which seeks to place Kenyans in skilled and unskilled roles abroad in countries such as Qatar, Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe.
Passport Services Could Also Be Brought to Huduma Centres
In tandem with the labor migration proposal, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has proposed moving passport application services to Huduma Centers to decongest the overstretched Nyayo House immigration office and enhance accessibility.
“There is one service that Kenyans constantly ask about at Huduma Centers — passport registration. We are exploring how to collaborate with the Ministry of Immigration to make this possible,” CS Ruku said during visits to Thika and Kiambu Huduma branches.
Currently, only nine passport issuance centers operate nationally. If implemented, this shift could revolutionize service delivery, making passports and migration services available from nearly every corner of the country.
A Boost for Kenya’s Labor Export Agenda
This development is a timely reinforcement of the government’s labor migration strategy, which has gained traction as a viable economic stimulus. With more countries signing bilateral labor agreements with Kenya, decentralizing related services is expected to smoothen deployment processes and reduce barriers for prospective migrant workers.
Labor CS Alfred Mutua has consistently emphasized the government’s commitment to creating more global work opportunities for Kenyans, especially the youth. The integration of these services into Huduma Centres is anticipated to reduce red tape, cut travel costs for applicants, and boost transparency.
As consultations advance and implementation plans solidify, Kenyans can look forward to more accessible, streamlined, and people-centered government services — both at home and for opportunities abroad.
