Youths who were promised jobs abroad by the Kenya Kwanza administration recounted to MPS their ordeals at the hands of rogue recruitment agencies.

This even as recruitment agencies painted a grim picture of how their counterparts, especially in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Middle East countries, make life difficult for them.

At the same time, the National Employment Authority (NEA) was taken to task by the Senate Labour and Social Welfare committee in a session chaired by nominated Senator Crystal Asige (Vice Chair) for failing to deregister rogue recruitment agencies.

The victims who applied for various jobs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia late last year are yet to get visas to enable them to travel, citing frustrations with the recruitment agencies.

Belinda Ouma, a victim of the job scam, narrated how she paid Sh100,000 to Vintmak recruitment agency last year and has not travelled and the officials have not refunded her the money.

“Before they could process my documents, I was told to deposit Sh100,000, which I did. I have been waiting for more than eight months but nothing is forthcoming. I went back for a refund and the officials of the agency have never given back the money,” said Belinda.

Another victim, Alex Ogutu, told the committee that he has been seeking a refund of Sh56,000 from Global Face recruitment agency in Mombasa to no avail.

Ogutu, through his representative Ms Dibo, narrated how he had applied for a job in Qatar and later his agency notified him that he was past the required age.

However, he questioned the agency why at the time of payment and documentation, the issue of age limit did not arise.

“Alex applied for a job in Qatar and paid Sh56,000 for processing. Later, the agency told us that Alex cannot travel because of his age. We have been seeking a refund since February this year,” said Ms Dibo.

Fee refund

Ogutu’s ordeal irked senators Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Miraj Abdullahi (nominated) and Beth Syengo (nominated), who asked Global Face Human Resource Limited recruitment agency to refund the Sh56,000.

“If the officials of Face Global are here, then they should commit that they are refunding the money,” said Madzayo.

Global Face Human Resource Limited Director Festus Omwamba admitted that Alex had indeed applied and deposited Sh56,000, which his agency will refund.

He however, clarified that although some applications have not gone through, his agency has migrated hundreds of job seekers to the Middle East nations.

“We currently have only 26 clients whose funds have not been refunded. We undertake to refund Alex Ogutu his money, as well as others. This process will take about one month,” said Omwamba.

Asige ruled that Omwamba should refund Alex his money immediately and commit to refunding the rest of the victims.

“Face Global agency should submit to the committee the names of all those who applied for jobs within their agency, those who have been paid and those who have not been paid. They must also submit and commit to when they are going to make a refund to all the victims who have sought a refund,” ruled Asige.

Mallow Smarthighers Limited Director Nasra Ibrahim found herself on the receiving end after she admitted that her agency has been sending job seekers to Iraq without Bilateral Labour Migration (BLA).

This is after a job seeker, Francis Muchoki from Muranga, who had applied for a job in Qatar was told that he would be going to Iraq.

According to Muchoki, he had been issued with a job letter and even attended a pre-departure training but is yet to get a visa and the job in Qatar has been changed to Iraq.

“My medical and good conduct have already expired. If the job offer comes, I will have to re-take the medical test and get another good conduct certificate,” said Muchoki.

Successfully marked

NEA Director General Edith Okoki told the committee that the successfully matched job seekers are expected to meet certain criteria before they can travel.

She further explained that while some have already travelled, some have not travelled due to challenges in the documentation process, lack/inadequate funds to process their travel expense, medical test failures and a change of mind by the job seekers.

According to Okoki, the first recruitment exercise was carried out between 20th & 27th November, 2024 and covered six counties: Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Nakuru, Baringo and Nyandarua.

“The recruitment exercise attracted over 1,000 prospective migrant workers from across all the counties. On the final day of the job fair, 300 successful job seekers were flagged off by the Deputy President to the State of Qatar,” he said.