The government has issued a fresh warning to jobseekers after flagging a private recruitment firm, M-Ajira, as unregistered, raising fresh concerns over the growing threat of job scams targeting Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad.
The National Employment Authority cautioned members of the public against engaging with the agency, stating that it is not licensed to offer recruitment services as required under the law.
The authority noted that the firm has not complied with the provisions of the Labour Institutions Act, 2007, which governs recruitment and placement, especially for overseas employment.
“The National Employment Authority wishes to caution jobseekers and members of the public against engaging with a private recruitment agency operating under the name M-Ajira,” the notice read.
The warning comes at a time when the agency had launched a high-profile recruitment drive targeting over 400 Kenyan truck drivers for jobs in Saudi Arabia, with promises of monthly earnings of up to KSh130,000.
The recruitment exercise, which included scheduled interviews in Nairobi and Mombasa, attracted widespread attention, particularly among youth seeking better-paying opportunities abroad.
However, the government’s intervention now casts doubt on the legitimacy of the process and highlights the risks facing jobseekers.
NEA has urged Kenyans, especially prospective migrant workers, to verify the registration status of recruitment agencies before engaging them, directing the public to its official verification platform.
The authority also called on members of the public to report any suspected recruitment malpractices through its official communication channels.
The M-Ajira warning adds to a broader government crackdown on fraudulent recruitment agencies that have been exploiting desperate jobseekers.
In recent months, authorities have moved to deregister hundreds of agencies found to be operating illegally or sending Kenyans to non-existent jobs abroad.
Officials say many victims have lost money or ended up stranded after being lured by promises of lucrative overseas employment, particularly in the Gulf region.
The latest development underscores the growing demand for overseas jobs among Kenyan youth, driven by limited opportunities locally and the promise of better pay abroad.
However, this demand has also created fertile ground for rogue actors who exploit gaps in regulation and public awareness.
With the government intensifying oversight in the labour export sector, the latest warning signals a renewed push to protect migrant workers and restore confidence in the recruitment process.
The case is likely to reignite debate over the regulation of private recruitment agencies, even as thousands of Kenyans continue to seek opportunities beyond the country’s borders.
