Kenya Deregisters 680 Rogue Job Agencies in Crackdown on Fake Overseas Recruiters
The Kenyan government has deregistered 680 recruitment agencies operating across the country for violating labour laws, in a sweeping crackdown targeting fraudulent firms accused of exploiting job seekers.
The move, announced by the Ministry of Labour, follows investigations that uncovered widespread licence violations and scams by rogue agencies preying on young Kenyans seeking overseas employment.
Fake Job Promises and Rising Complaints
The crackdown was triggered by viral protests in July, after youth from the Coast region shared how they had been conned out of thousands by fake recruiters.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua revealed that the Multi-Agency Labour Mobility Taskforce had received over 100 formal complaints from victims across 15 counties, who collectively lost more than Sh17.3 million to fraudulent schemes.
“Most of the victims coming to us were promised well-paying jobs overseas, only to be left devastated, broke, and in some cases stranded without travel documents,”
— CS Alfred Mutua.
He warned that all deregistered agents and their accomplices would face arrest and prosecution, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protect Kenyan workers abroad.
To strengthen oversight, the ministry has established a one-stop centre to handle migration-related complaints and coordinate enforcement across agencies.
Victims Targeted with False Promises
Investigations found that most of the scams involved fake job offers in countries such as Canada, Qatar, Australia, and Germany, where victims paid hefty processing fees — sometimes tens of thousands of shillings — before the recruiters vanished.
President William Ruto, while addressing Kenyans in Doha, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to safe and structured labour migration, noting that Kenya will only deploy workers to countries with formal bilateral labour agreements.
“The deregistration of rogue recruiters is part of broader reforms to protect our migrant workers and ensure they access dignified, well-paying opportunities abroad,”
— President William Ruto.
Industry Welcomes Crackdown
Mwalimu Mwaguzo, the National Chairman of Private Recruiters, welcomed the move, noting that many of the affected agencies had continued to operate without valid licences.
“This crackdown will help restore integrity in the recruitment sector and protect legitimate operators who follow the law,”
— Mwalimu Mwaguzo.
Mutua further cautioned Kenyans against using unverified job agencies or travelling on tourist visas for work, stressing that only agencies accredited by the National Employment Authority (NEA) are legally authorised to conduct recruitment.
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Kenya Deregisters 680 Rogue Job Agencies in Crackdown on Fake Overseas Recruiters