Job scam alert: Government cautions Kenyans on fake overseas opportunities
The statement also highlighted that fraudsters have been exploiting the process by offering "facilitation services" for a fee, with many unsuspecting victims being misled into paying for fraudulent documents.
Kenya's government has issued a stern warning to its citizens about the rising threat of job scams abroad, a growing issue that risks derailing the country's plans to export labour and tackle high levels of local unemployment.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs reported an alarming increase in cases where Kenyans have fallen victim to fraudulent migration schemes, with many lured by promises of non-existent job opportunities.
More To Read
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry urged all citizens planning to travel abroad to apply for visas only through official websites, emphasising that visa applications are a personal responsibility and do not require the involvement of agents or organisations.
The statement also highlighted that fraudsters have been exploiting the process by offering "facilitation services" for a fee, with many unsuspecting victims being misled into paying for fraudulent documents.
"The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs continues to receive complaints from citizens who have been defrauded while applying for travel visas to various countries," the statement read. "It is important that persons seeking to travel to different destinations apply for the correct visas as provided on the official websites of the respective countries."
The ministry also reminded travellers that overstaying a visa is a serious immigration offence that can lead to imprisonment, fines, or deportation, depending on the laws of the host country.
"The ministry warns that it is an immigration offence to overstay a visa. If apprehended, one may be liable to imprisonment or a fine, as determined by the courts of the various jurisdictions. One can also be deported for violating immigration laws," the statement continued.
This warning comes in the wake of numerous reports of Kenyans being defrauded by unscrupulous recruitment agencies. In one high-profile case in September 2024, a group of job seekers gathered outside the offices of a fraudulent recruitment agency in Nairobi.
Many of the victims had paid as much as Sh140,000 in "facilitation fees" in exchange for supposed job opportunities abroad. However, when they arrived at the agency's office, they found it locked and staff nowhere to be found.
Kenya's high unemployment rate and large youth population have made the country a prime target for fraudulent agencies that prey on people desperate for better opportunities abroad.
These agencies often promote fake job offers on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook, and advertising positions in countries such as Canada, Germany, and Qatar. They then provide counterfeit documents and assign victims to "consultants" who promise to help with visa applications.
Once payments are made, however, communication ceases, leaving many stranded abroad with no means of supporting themselves.
Top Stories Today
