State delists 600 rogue job agencies

By Newsflash Writer
The government has deregistered 680 recruitment agencies across the country for breaching labour laws, as part of a nationwide operation targeting fraudulent labour migration schemes.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the move aims to restore order in the foreign employment sector and shield thousands of Kenyans from exploitation by fake job brokers.

The action follows investigations revealing that many of the affected firms operated without valid licences, violated labour regulations, and exposed job seekers to abuse and financial losses. The crackdown was sparked by a viral video in July showing angry youths from the Coast region protesting after being conned by fake recruiters.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua disclosed that at least 100 formal complaints have been submitted to the Multi-Agency Labour Mobility Taskforce, with victims from 15 counties losing over Sh17.3 million to fraudsters who promised them lucrative jobs abroad. “Most of the victims who came to us were promised well-paying jobs overseas, only to end up stranded, broke, and without travel documents,” said Dr Mutua.

He warned that unscrupulous agents and their accomplices would face arrest, prosecution, and deregistration, emphasizing that the government would protect Kenyans seeking jobs abroad. “We are alarmed by the rising cases of individuals posing as licensed recruiters, collecting money, and vanishing. Kenyans deserve safe and dignified pathways to foreign employment, and we will defend that right using every available tool,” he said.

To strengthen oversight, Dr Mutua announced the establishment of a One-Stop Centre to handle complaints and improve coordination among agencies involved in labour migration. Investigations by the taskforce have exposed elaborate scams in which unsuspecting youth were lured with promises of high-paying jobs in Canada, Qatar, Australia, and Germany. After paying ‘processing fees’ worth tens of thousands of shillings, the recruiters would disappear, leaving victims in debt.

Push for safe labour migration

During a recent meeting with the Kenyan diaspora in Doha, Qatar, President William Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safe and structured labour migration. He said deregistering rogue agencies was part of wider reforms aimed at protecting migrant workers. “When domestic workers in Gulf countries raise complaints, the agencies that deployed them must intervene. Those that fail to do so are denied licence renewal or deregistered,” President Ruto said.

National chairman of private recruitment agencies, Mwalimu Mwaguzo, supported the clean-up, noting that most of the delisted firms violated rules meant to safeguard Kenyan workers abroad. “Some agencies continued operating illegally without renewing their licences, which cost Sh250,000 annually. Others ignored worker complaints, automatically attracting deregistration,” he said.

He, however, urged transparency in licence renewal decisions, arguing that some agencies are denied renewal without clear explanations. “We support the government’s action—it’s harsh but necessary. However, some are rejected without being told why, only to be informed it’s for ‘national security.’ How do you appeal if you don’t know your offence?” he asked.

Another agent, Juma Mwangala, observed that some deregistered firms were mere brokers without accreditation. “While some are genuine, others couldn’t renew their licences due to low business. The government should differentiate between defaulters and fraudsters,” he said.

Dr Mutua further cautioned Kenyans against seeking jobs abroad using tourist visas or purchasing travel packages from unverified operators, warning that only agencies accredited by the National Employment Authority (NEA) are legally permitted to recruit. He reiterated that the government is ensuring deployment only to countries with formal bilateral labour agreements to protect Kenyan workers while expanding access to dignified and well-paying opportunities abroad.