Delays in job placements abroad due to logistics, not fraud, says CS Mutua

Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has blamed logistical setbacks for the slow rollout of overseas job placements, as he dismissed allegations of fraud linked to the programme.

Appearing before the Senate Labour Committee, he defended the process and said the government was not involved in conning Kenyans.

Mutua acknowledged that while some people had not yet received jobs abroad, a number had already travelled and started working.

He said the hiring process involved multiple steps, including medical examinations, documentation, and coordination with foreign agencies, which could take time to complete.

“The deployment of migrant workers involves several stages, including registration, mandatory medical examinations and coordination with foreign employers and agencies, which may result in delays,” Mutua said.

The CS explained that delays were also caused by cases of failed medical tests, applicants lacking the money to process documents, and others who later decided not to take up the offers. Despite these challenges, he insisted that the programme was active and above board.

Mutua told senators that successful candidates would be publicly listed, and the ministry remained focused on clearing all pending cases while following legal and ethical rules.

His appearance before the committee followed complaints by job seekers who said they were swindled under the promise of work opportunities overseas.

Victims who spoke to the committee said they were asked to pay between Sh15,000 and Sh55,000, only to realise the offers were not real.

One such victim, Godfrey Githae, a carpenter from Nyeri, narrated how he borrowed money from his family to secure a job in Iraq.

“I was told the visa was being processed, but I’ve received nothing. I’ve travelled to Nairobi eight times this year for follow-ups, each trip costing me Sh1,200,” he said.

According to Mutua, most of the complaints were tied to recruitment for jobs in the Middle East.

He admitted that some of the initial job offers did not meet Kenya’s employment standards and were rejected. He explained that Kenyans should not work abroad for salaries lower than what they earn locally.

“The salary needs to be a bit higher. You are leaving your family here, your environment, so the salary should be higher. It took time because they went and renegotiated for a raise in salary,” the CS said.

He added that the negotiations were successful, resulting in better pay and proper offer letters for applicants.

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Speaking about the Qatar job placements, Mutua said that job offers were issued in stages over a long period. He noted that around 1,000 offers had been received out of an expected 3,000, and that people had been travelling based on placement schedules.

“The travelling of people overseas is a process. Out of the 3,000 people who indicated they had been given job offers, were hired. We received slightly below or above 1,000 job offers, and the processing started, and since then, people have been travelling,” he said.

Mutua also pointed out that those who signed up for the programme received training and were briefed on the process. The opportunities were mainly linked to a company in Qatar with business operations across the Middle East and North Africa.

“They have their businesses in different countries. They were going to be posted to these companies' businesses across the Middle East and the North African region,” he said.

Mutua clarified that those who changed their minds were refunded their payments, apart from the cost of medical tests. He also said some were offered other jobs, and a few chose to wait for fresh openings.

“Others have travelled and have been given alternative jobs and similar jobs elsewhere. Others chose to wait for alternative jobs,” he said.

As concerns continue to emerge, Mutua reiterated that the ministry was committed to fairness and transparency in handling foreign job placements and would continue to address grievances raised by affected individuals.

Response to allegations

Mutua also responded to allegations by Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, who claimed that the Labour Mobility Program, intended to create employment opportunities for Kenyans abroad, is a scam.

This comes after Orwoba raised concerns about overseas job scams and the National Employment Authority's role in protecting Kenyans from rogue employment agencies, when CS Mutua appeared before the Labour and Social Welfare Committee to discuss the same.

CS Mutua challenged Senator Orwoba to substantiate her claims, particularly her assertion that 1,000 youth who took loans from the Youth Fund had not travelled as promised.

The CS further dismissed claims that thousands had borrowed money from shylocks and microfinance institutions to secure overseas jobs, terming them as "fabrications."

"We challenge her to table the names of the 1,000 people she claims were conned after receiving Youth Funds and the name of the 'silent agent' she alleges has since gone quiet," said Mutua in a letter addressed to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

"Let her also provide evidence of the so-called thousands she claims to have received loans from shylocks and microfinance institutions. We wish to share with the Senate that all this is a fabrication meant to mislead the House and the Kenyan public in a bid to gain popularity and political mileage," he said.

CS Mutua also accused Senator Orwoba of making personal threats and attempting to intimidate Labour Ministry officials.

"Senator Gloria Orwoba also threatened me when I told her to stop harassing my officers. She told me that she will deal with me by teaching me a lesson. She also added, and I quote: 'Kasongo is going down and I will not go down with him', referring to H.E. the President. This reference to H.E. the President was made when my phone was on speaker mode while I was in the company of Cabinet Secretary Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya," Mutua revealed.

Similarly, CS Mutua alleged that Orwoba had engaged in unethical conduct by influencing media coverage through pre-determined narratives and financial incentives.

"Her feelings of entitlement have even led her to coach people to mislead media houses. She has compromised the youth to appear in media interviews. She financed youths by giving them money as 'bus fare' and 'accommodation' so that they could take a negative stance and mislead Kenyans. We will table the evidence," said Mutua.