State flags 26 unregistered recruitment agencies

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, through the National Employment Authority (NEA), has issued a warning to the public about several private employment agencies that are not registered with the authority.

These agencies are not authorised to conduct recruitment activities for local or foreign job markets.

In a public notice in Thursday, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, cautioned jobseekers to be vigilant when dealing with recruitment firms, urging them to verify the agencies' registration status before engaging their services.

"We wish to inform the general public and jobseekers that the following private employment agencies are not registered by the Authority and are, therefore, not authorised to undertake any recruitment activities for local or foreign labour markets," the notice read.

Among the unregistered agencies listed in the notice are Tangofox Ltd, Kistamu Agency Limited, and Gulfway Recruitment Company Ltd.

Others mentioned in the notice include Royal Capital Placement Ltd, Geoverah Agency Ltd, First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Ltd, and Omran Aly Agencies Ltd.

The Ministry stressed the importance of job seekers conducting due diligence when interacting with recruitment agencies to avoid falling victim to scams or exploitation.

To assist the public in identifying legitimate recruitment firms, the Ministry advised jobseekers to verify the registration status of agencies on the NEA website.

Due diligence

"Members of the public are further cautioned to do due diligence before they engage with any recruitment agency," the notice read further.

The NEA website provides a list of registered and authorised agencies.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Kenyan job seekers from unregistered firms that may exploit or mislead them.

The public can access the full list of recruitment agencies and their registration status on the NEA website.

In addition, the Labour Ministry continues to encourage Kenyans to remain cautious and only work with officially registered agencies to ensure their safety and protection in both local and foreign labour markets.

In September 2024, the government unveiled a series of new regulations governing employment both locally and abroad.

CS Mutua noted that the regulations aim to clean up the recruitment sector and expand job opportunities for Kenyans seeking employment overseas.

"I am pleased to announce a series of critical reforms aimed at streamlining the recruitment and deployment process for Kenyans seeking employment abroad," he said.

One of the key changes introduced was the establishment of a new registration system for employment agencies.

Under the new framework, new agencies will be required to pay an initial registration fee of Sh500,000 for a certificate valid for one year.

Existing agencies will see their renewal period extended to two years, with renewal costs set at Sh500,000 for the full period or Sh250,000 for one year, providing the option for renewal.