CS Mutua under fire over continued operations of rogue recruitment agencies

MPs have criticised the government's inaction on rogue recruitment agencies exploiting desperate Kenyan youth seeking jobs abroad saying failure to act is endangering lives and breaching public trust.

During a heated parliamentary committee session, lawmakers accused Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and the criminal investigation agencies of sleeping on the job.

The Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee pointed out that there is growing evidence of exploitation, human trafficking and neglect of Kenyan migrant workers in countries such as Libya and the Gulf States.

The MPs pointed out that desperation driven by unemployment is pushing thousands of young Kenyans to risk perilous journeys abroad, often ending up in war-torn regions.

“Can this committee be furnished with a report of all licensed and blacklisted agencies? Poor families are selling land to send their children abroad, only for them to fall into the hands of human traffickers,” said Njoro MP Charity Kathambi.

The team further questioned government agencies'c commitment to protect Kenyan workers, even as private recruitment firms continue to operate with impunity

“We have so many opportunities for our youth, but the system is failing them. We must find a way to regulate these agencies and ensure fairness,” said Mombasa County Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed.

She decried the lack of a comprehensive audit and transparency in the licensing of recruitment firms, demanding accountability for over 67 agencies reportedly involved in questionable overseas recruitment practices.

“These agencies take people out with tourist visas and they are not going for tourism. They are going because of hopelessness; this ministry has disappeared. It is not visible where Kenyans are suffering the most,” she added.

The committee chair and Taita Taveta woman representative Lydia Haika, further MPs poked holes on the government labour export deal that has seen rogue recruitment agencies take advantage to con Kenyans millions of shillings.

“You say you are empowering change, and you have a list of companies that you have blacklisted. To what extent did you publish and publicise that list? So that Kenyans are at least averse to being conned,” said Haika.

“This is why Kenyans keep on being conned. A ministry that is sleeping on the mandate cannot be accepted, and I don't know why taxpayer money can be used, this ministry has never been there to help Kenyans.”

Mutua said the government has intensified a nationwide crackdown on rogue recruitment agencies exploiting Kenyan jobseekers, especially those seeking opportunities in the Gulf region.

 This comes amid growing evidence that unlicensed agents have been swindling unsuspecting citizens with promises of overseas employment, many of which turn out to be fake or abusive.

The CS said a team comprising the Ministry of Labour, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) is aggressively pursuing unregistered recruitment firms, most of which operate as informal travel agencies or fake consultancies within Nairobi and other major towns.

“Over 90 per cent of the individuals and entities found to be recruiting Kenyans for jobs abroad were not registered with the Ministry or any government authority,” the CS disclosed during a parliamentary session.

“These are people who have no business licenses, no physical offices, and no accountability. Some operate websites and masquerade as legitimate agencies while preying on vulnerable citizens.”

The CS said hundreds of Kenyans have fallen victim to these fraudulent schemes, paying between Sh300,000 to 500,000 in cash or via mobile money for nonexistent job offers.

However, prosecuting the offenders remains difficult due to lack of contracts or receipts.

“Victims often don’t have paperwork to prove they paid money for employment services. This makes it hard to hold perpetrators accountable under current laws,” the CS added.