Government Responds to Widespread Exploitation

NAIROBI, KENYA – The Government of Kenya has deregistered 680 private recruitment agencies for violating labour regulations, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced on Thursday, 6th November 2025. This decisive action is part of a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent overseas job schemes that have exploited thousands of Kenyans, leading to significant financial and emotional distress. The move follows months of public outcry, which was amplified by a viral video in July 2025 showing young people from the Coast region protesting after being swindled by fake recruiters.

Investigations by the Ministry of Labour found that the affected firms were engaged in various malpractices, including operating without valid licenses, failing to renew their permits, and exposing job seekers to abuse. According to CS Mutua, the Multi-Agency Labour Mobility Taskforce has received at least 100 formal complaints from victims across 15 counties, who have collectively lost more than KSh 17.3 million to these scams. “Most of the victims coming to us were promised well-paying jobs overseas, only to be left devastated, broke, and in some cases, stranded without travel documents,” Dr. Mutua stated.

A Coordinated Effort to Sanitize the Sector

The crackdown is a multi-agency effort involving the Ministry of Labour, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the National Employment Authority (NEA). To streamline the reporting and handling of such cases, the government has established a One-Stop Centre to manage complaints and coordinate the agencies involved in labour migration. CS Mutua issued a stern warning that rogue recruitment agents and their accomplices will face arrest, prosecution, and deregistration. While the full list of the 680 deregistered companies was not made public in the announcement, the government has advised citizens to verify the legitimacy of any recruitment agency through the official NEA website before engaging with them. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED to obtain the complete list.

President William Ruto, speaking from Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, 5th November 2025, affirmed the government's commitment to reforming the labour migration sector. He stated that the delisting of over 600 rogue agencies is a key part of ensuring safety, dignity, and fairness for Kenyan workers abroad. “The deployment is now limited to countries with formal bilateral labour agreements with Kenya,” President Ruto said, emphasizing that such agreements are crucial for protecting workers' rights.

Implications for Kenyan Job Seekers

The proliferation of fraudulent agencies has become a significant national issue, preying on the high demand for overseas employment among Kenyans. These scams often involve promises of lucrative jobs in countries like Canada, Qatar, Australia, and Germany. Victims are typically required to pay substantial processing fees, only for the agents to disappear, leaving the applicants stranded and in debt.

Mwalimu Mwaguzo, the national chairman of private recruitment agencies, expressed support for the government's cleanup, noting that many of the delisted firms had operated illegally for years. “Some agencies failed to renew their licences, yet continued to operate illegally. Each is required to pay an annual renewal fee of Sh250,000, but you will find some last renewed in 2020 and still have recruited workers,” Mr. Mwaguzo explained. However, he also called for transparency in the licensing and renewal process to ensure legitimate agencies are not unfairly penalized.

The government has strongly cautioned Kenyans against using tourist visas to seek employment abroad or engaging with unverified operators. Only agencies officially accredited by the National Employment Authority (NEA) are legally authorized to recruit Kenyans for overseas jobs. The public is urged to exercise extreme diligence and consult the NEA's online portal for a list of accredited agencies to avoid falling victim to these pervasive scams.