Govt flags 16 recruiting agencies operating without valid documents

The government has flagged 16 recruiting agencies operating without the necessary certifications, putting Kenyans seeking jobs abroad on high alert.

Shadrack Mwadime, the Principal Secretary for Labour and Skills Development, announced on Tuesday that the Ministry of Labour, the police, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) conducted the probe into the agencies.

Kenyans were urged to conduct due diligence while looking for jobs abroad before falling victim to such fraudsters.

The PS also called on Kenyans to ensure that all job offers have been approved by the Director General, the National Employment Authority.

Mwadime also noted that Kenyans pursuing jobs abroad must obtain clearance from the Ministry of Labour before purchasing their air tickets.

"The attestation process is done online through the National Employment Authority website (NEAIMS.GO.KE), including the downloading and uploading of the necessary documentation," he said in a statement.

This comes in the wake of a recent scandal in Eldoret, where reports state that scammers defrauded about 300 people out of their money by making false promises of jobs in Canada.

The company involved is accused of charging residents between Sh300,000 and Sh350,000 for visas and other requirements.

A sample of a Kenyan passport. (Photo: Interior Ministry)

In response, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has ordered a crackdown on those suspected to be behind the scam.

Going further, PS Mwadime clarified that the National Employment Authority (NEA) is responsible for connecting Kenyans with employers abroad.

He also urged Kenyans to check the list of registered recruitment agencies on the NEA platform (https://neaims.go.ke/EmploymentAgencyList.aspx).

Agencies listed in black have valid licences, while those in red are still undergoing verification.

The government has recently cut down the number of private recruitment agencies from 1,000 to 500 after a detailed vetting process.

In addition to that, and in order to tackle migration challenges, the government has set up a labour migration desk at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

According to the PS, this desk will ensure that Kenyan migrant workers follow the proper procedures before leaving the country, helping to prevent irregular migration and human trafficking.