Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Kathure Njogu, has clarified that no licensed recruitment agency has facilitated the travel of any Kenyan to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia or Russia.

Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on February 13, 2026, Njogu revealed that all cases of Kenyans ending up in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia or Russia are linked to illegal channels.

“There is no a single Kenyan who has been taken to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia or Russia, by a licensed recruitment agency,” PS Njogu said.

While emphasising the ongoing government oversight of foreign job placements, PS Njogu explained that the Ministry has done a careful review of Kenyans brought back after being trapped abroad, with the report exposing rogue agencies.

“We have reviewed every person brought back; not a single one has been taken by a licensed agency,” she added.

Kenyans in India

On the other hand, PS Njogu revealed that some Kenyans who overstayed their visas, particularly in India, are refusing to return home, even after the government secured a special waiver removing financial penalties.

Njogu recounted her to India in 2024, where she says she met many Kenyans whose visas had lapsed.

“We negotiated, um, uh, what do you call it, a penalties waiver with India because a number of Kenyans had gone to India, overstayed their visas, and their visas lapsed,” she said.

PS Njogu highlighted the dangers overstayers face.

“Now once you’re in a country beyond your visa, you become, um, vulnerable. You’re there illegally, and you’re vulnerable. Now you’re vulnerable to trafficking; you’re vulnerable to all kinds of things. You can be arrested. Even here we arrest visa overstayers and so on,” she added.

The waiver, secured through the Kenya High Commission in New Delhi, cancels the heavy fines overstayers would otherwise have to pay.

“So basically you don’t have to pay the thousands of rupees that you should pay to be allowed to leave the country, right? So you can, uh, it’s basically, uh, a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Njogu said. “The penalties are waived, yes, that’s what I mean. The penalty is waived, so now all you need to do is buy your ticket and go home.”