Members of the Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee on Tuesday exposed 32 student recruitment agencies operating without licenses.
Student recruitment agencies are institutions that help learning institutions especially universities and colleges to attract international students.
These agencies market the institutions, advise the international students and connect the students with the institutions in Kenya.
The committee was grilling officials from the Commission for University Education (CUE) led by Deputy Commission Secretary Eunice Marete.
During the meeting, the MPs were informed that only 39 agencies had valid licenses out of the 86 registered ones.
According to Marete, nine agencies have pending applications while four are awaiting inspection and two others have been closed down.
"Committee members sought to know why 32 agencies have had pending applications for more than six months," read a statement from Parliament.
Marete revealed that an improperly established board had caused the delay. She added that going forward, some movement should be expected since the current board was fully constituted.
She explained that the commission often issues three types of licenses including one-week, one-month and 12-month licenses.
Additionally, Marete revealed that the commission was currently issuing a one-week license when a valid and existing agency wants to conduct activities in any county.
"In regard to the one-year license, the period was determined before the market stabilised. The commission will deliberate on the proposal to elongate the period," she told the committee.
Notably, CUE issues licenses to all agencies which are required to apply annually, and each employee of the agency should have a bachelor's degree.
Other requirements the agencies should meet include paying the set fee, complying with national and county government regulations, having a valid MOU with each institution, have a functional website, internet, email address and postal address.
"A Student Recruitment Agency shall recruit qualified students for admission into universities/ institutions that are accredited and recognized in their countries of origin," reads part of the CUE guidelines.
