The government has deregistered more than 500 recruitment agencies accused of defrauding unsuspecting Kenyans with false promises of lucrative jobs abroad, Labor Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has announced.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) while issuing travel documents to individuals set to depart for jobs in countries such as Qatar, Iraq, Germany, and Russia, Dr. Mutua stated that the affected agencies were operating without government authorization and have been exploiting desperate job seekers.“The agencies that have been conning Kenyans are not registered by the government.
We are working closely with relevant state organs to arrest and prosecute all individuals and entities found culpable,” said Dr. Mutua.
The Labor CS distanced his ministry from claims that state agencies were involved in the fraudulent recruitment schemes under the ‘jobs majuu’ initiative. He emphasized that only verified and registered agencies are allowed to recruit Kenyans for overseas employment.
The deregistration follows growing concerns and reports from victims who allege they were swindled out of millions of shillings by online recruiters masquerading as official government agents.
Mutua called on Kenyans to remain vigilant and to verify the authenticity of any job agency before engaging in any employment-related transactions. He also encouraged those who are set to travel to represent the country with dignity and act as ambassadors of Kenya abroad.“To those who feel the deployment process is taking too long, I urge you to be patient. We are committed to ensuring your safety and securing legitimate opportunities for you,” he added.
The government reaffirmed its support for labor migration but stressed that it must be done legally and transparently.
