The government has flagged 16 agencies in Eldoret defrauding jobseekers of millions of shillings under the guise of promising employment opportunities abroad.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the National Employment Authority (NEA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), indicate that the unethical recruitments are being carried out by agencies that are not registered with the NEA, as required by law. Online scammers are also playing a role in these fraudulent activities.
“The ministry wishes to notify Kenyans that all jobs advertisements or any job offers or demand letters must have been approved by the director general national employment authority,” said Shadrack Mwadime Principal Secretary Ministry of labour.
Scam victims
To protect Kenyans from falling victim to such scams, the government mandates that all foreign employment contracts must be attested by designated labour officers at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection before job seekers can purchase air tickets to their countries of destination. This measure ensures that all employment agreements meet legal standards and that the rights of Kenyan workers are safeguarded.
The NEA is responsible for registering and licensing private recruitment agencies, which are then authorized to link Kenyans with employers abroad. These agencies must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure that the recruitment process is ethical and transparent.
In addition to these safeguards, the government has operationalized a Labour Migration Desk at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). This desk is designed to ensure that Kenyan migrant workers have complied with all necessary pre-departure procedures before leaving the country.
The desk is a crucial part of the government’s efforts to curb irregular migration, promote ethical recruitment practices, and combat human trafficking. The goal is to ensure that labour migration from Kenya is safe, orderly, and regular for all involved.
This crackdown comes amid growing concerns over the exploitation of Kenyan job seekers by unregistered agencies and the rise in human trafficking cases. The government’s actions are seen as a significant step toward protecting vulnerable citizens from exploitation and ensuring that those seeking employment abroad do so under secure and lawful conditions.
