Kenyan Government Cracks Down on Unregistered Recruitment Agencies

The high demand for job opportunities in Kenya has led many citizens to fall victim to fraudulent employers and unregulated employment agencies, resulting in significant financial losses. Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, leading the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, has identified at least 26 unregistered recruitment agencies operating illegally.

The Ministry has warned job seekers against dealing with these agencies, as they lack approval from the National Employment Authority (NEA) and are unauthorized to operate both locally and internationally. Following an investigation conducted in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and NEA, the Ministry confirmed that these agencies were not properly registered.

CS Mutua urged the public to thoroughly research recruitment agencies before engaging with them. He emphasized that job seekers can verify the registration status of agencies through the NEA website. The government is intensifying efforts to crack down on rogue agencies that lure Kenyans with promises of foreign employment, only to abandon them once abroad.