By Njeri Irungu,
20th January 2025,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Dr. Alfred Mutua has raised alarm over widespread fraud targeting Kenyans seeking employment abroad, revealing that hundreds of complaints have been lodged with government agencies over the past six months.
Speaking during a media briefing, Dr. Mutua said a multi-agency task force established on July 15, 2026, has so far received 390 complaints from jobseekers who claim they were defrauded while pursuing overseas employment opportunities under the labour mobility programme.
The task force brings together the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Office of the Attorney General, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to the Cabinet Secretary, 15 investigation files have been finalised and forwarded to the DPP for review, while several other cases are at various stages of investigation and prosecution.
“Fraud investigations are complex and forensic in nature. Investigators must first obtain court approval to access bank records, mobile money statements and other critical evidence before charges can be preferred,” Dr. Mutua said.
Rise of Unregistered Recruiters
The ministry noted that a large number of complaints involve unregistered recruitment entities and individuals, many of whom are not recognised by the National Employment Authority (NEA) or registered with the Business Registration Service.
In several cases, victims reportedly paid large sums of money in cash or transferred funds to personal mobile money accounts, making it difficult for investigators to trace transactions.
Dr. Mutua warned that fraudsters continue to exploit the desperation of jobseekers by using fake advertisements and false promises of lucrative jobs in foreign countries.
Court Cases and Ongoing Investigations
The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that several cases are currently before the courts, including criminal proceedings and civil claims seeking refunds. Some affected individuals have successfully recovered their money through legal processes.
However, he expressed concern that certain suspects have sought court orders to temporarily halt investigations, a move he said slows down the pursuit of justice.
Youth Employment Funds Under Probe
Dr. Mutua also disclosed that investigations are ongoing into the alleged misuse of public funds disbursed through a government youth employment programme meant to facilitate overseas job placements.
While some beneficiaries were successfully deployed abroad, other cases remain under investigation after agencies failed to account for funds received or demonstrate how the money was utilised.
Advisory to Jobseekers and Parents
The Labour ministry issued a strong advisory urging Kenyans to verify all overseas job offers through the National Employment Authority before making any payments or travel arrangements.
Dr. Mutua cautioned jobseekers against paying individuals directly, using personal mobile money numbers, or travelling on tourist or visitor visas for employment.
“No Kenyan should travel for work without a verified job offer, a signed contract and an employment visa. Any other arrangement exposes our people to exploitation and trafficking,” he said.
Parents were also urged to ensure due diligence before supporting their children’s overseas travel, warning that failure to verify recruitment processes puts young people at serious risk.
Labour Export Gains Despite Challenges
Despite the reported cases of fraud, Dr. Mutua said Kenya has recorded significant progress in legitimate labour migration. He revealed that over 500,000 Kenyans have secured overseas employment through verified channels since the current administration took office, with hundreds more departing daily.
The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting jobseekers, holding fraudsters accountable and ensuring that recruitment agencies charge employers — not workers — for placement services.
“Our objective is to ensure that young Kenyans access genuine job opportunities safely, affordably and with dignity,” Dr. Mutua said.
