Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested three Ministry of Labour officials at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in a sting operation, exposing an alleged bribery ring that demanded cash to clear migrant workers for travel. The arrests on Sunday, November 30, 2025, have cast a harsh light on the hurdles facing Kenyans seeking employment abroad.

The operation targeted what the EACC described as a routine extortion scheme. Investigators allege that recruitment agents were forced to pay a KES 500 bribe for every worker destined for the Middle East before their documents would be processed at the airport's labour ministry booth.

A Calculated Operation

The EACC confirmed the arrests followed a period of surveillance after receiving complaints about the illicit charges. The breakthrough came when the commission collaborated with a recruitment agent who was processing 78 Kenyan workers for departure. At the airport, the three officers allegedly demanded and received KES 34,000 from the agent, prompting investigators to move in and make the arrests.

The officials taken into custody were identified as:

• Benson Ouma Okello
• Esther Njoki Gakuru
• Denis Marias

The suspects were escorted to the EACC's Integrity Centre headquarters for processing and were later released on a cash bail of KES 50,000 each as investigations continue.

Exploiting a Vital Lifeline

This alleged corruption strikes at the heart of a crucial economic lifeline for countless Kenyan families who depend on remittances from relatives working abroad. For many job-seekers, the journey to find work, particularly in the Middle East, is already fraught with financial strain and uncertainty. The imposition of illegal fees by public officers adds another layer of exploitation, with reports suggesting some workers have missed flights due to clearance delays when unable to pay bribes.

The EACC reiterated its commitment to dismantling such corrupt practices at key service delivery points. The arrests at JKIA are part of a broader anti-corruption effort, coming just weeks after the EACC arrested the chairperson of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority Board over separate bribery allegations.

As the investigation unfolds, the case against the three officers will likely serve as a critical test of the government's resolve to protect its most vulnerable citizens and ensure that the path to opportunity is not blocked by graft.