The government has rolled out a massive crackdown on jobs abroad fraud, with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection confirming that 116 travel agents are being investigated for duping Kenyans looking for jobs abroad.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said that a total of 390 cases related to labour and recruitment scams are being dealt with by the authorities, most of which are related to people who lost money in search of opportunities abroad.
Labour Ministry steps up action as Jobs Abroad Fraud cases rise across Kenya
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 20, Mutua announced that the 116 travel agents under investigation were operating illegally, having failed to register with the National Employment Authority (NEA) and the Business Registration Service (BRS).
“These persons and firms are not registered with NEA or BRS. This in itself is an offence,” the ministry stated, adding that such loopholes have in the past been used to swindle innocent Kenyans.
The probes are being conducted by a task force comprising the Ministry of Labour, the Office of the Attorney General, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which was established six months ago.
To date, 15 case files have been completed and submitted to the DPP for further assessment and approval to charge the suspects in court.
According to the ministry, the strengthened enforcement efforts have already started to bear fruit. Three persons and one company are now facing charges in court, while two victims have successfully retrieved their funds after winning their cases.
“Cases of agencies duping Kenyans have greatly diminished,” the ministry said. “We shall continue to clean up this sector to safeguard job seekers.”
Mutua called on the public to collaborate with the police in order to report suspected recruiters and fake travel agencies. He also asked job seekers to check all recruitment agencies and job offers through the NEA website before committing to anything.
The ministry also warned Kenyans against common pitfalls associated with job opportunities abroad, such as using tourist visas to look for employment, paying using personal mobile numbers, and parting with money without written contracts or receipts.
In a particularly stern warning, parents were told not to let their children travel abroad for work without proper employment visas due to the increasing threat of human trafficking.
“Only agents registered with NEA are authorised to undertake labour mobility services,” the ministry added. “Undertake personal due diligence and report any suspicious individuals or agencies to the Ministry or the Labour Mobility Desk.”
However, despite the fraud allegations, the government claims that the foreign employment program is still on the rise.
In the last four years, approximately 538,000 Kenyan citizens have gained employment abroad through the government’s program, with estimates suggesting that the figure could hit one million in the next 12 months.
However, for many would-be job seekers, the ministry states that vigilance, verification, and awareness remain the best protection against becoming a victim of jobs abroad fraud.
