The government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, on Tuesday cautioned Kenyans against unscrupulous recruitment agencies after job seekers in Eldoret got conned millions in fake foreign jobs.
In a statement, the Ministry revealed that it had conducted preliminary investigations jointly with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) which revealed that the unethical recruitments were carried out by agencies that were not registered by the National Employment Authority (NEA).
The government flagged about 16 recruitment agencies which were found culpable of violating the law following complaints from Kenyans.
While issuing directives to Kenyans after the findings, the Ministry clarified that the National Employment Authority (NEA) must first approve all job advertisements and offers before Kenyans are allowed to apply.
The ministry further revealed that all foreign contracts of employment must be attested by the designated labour officers at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection before purchasing air tickets to travel.
“The attestation process is done online through the National Employment Authority Website (NEAIMS.GO.KE) including downloading and uploading of the necessary documentation," the Ministry of Labour clarified.
Kenyans seeking to know credible recruitment agencies were directed to access the list through the National Employment Authority's website.
"Agencies listed in black have valid licenses while those in red are not valid," read part of the statement by the Ministry of Labour.
According to Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, whereas there were over 1000 Private Recruitment Agencies in Kenya, the number has been reduced to 500 through the stringent vetting process to root out the fake Agencies.
Mwadime also revealed that the government had operationalised a labour migration desk at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to ensure Kenyan migrant workers comply with all the necessary pre-departure procedures before exiting the country.
The PS noted the desk will help in curbing irregular migration, unethical recruitment, and human trafficking to ensure the realisation of safe, orderly, regular labour migration for all Kenyans.
The clarification comes hardly a week after about 300 people in Eldoret were duped millions of shillings with promises of non-existent jobs in Canada.
In response to the incident, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii warned that the government would take stern action against agencies found to have violated the law by conning unsuspecting Kenyans.
