Job seekers in Kenya are finding themselves at the mercy of unscrupulous recruitment agencies, with claims of being lured into a scam under the guise of overseas employment. This is despite tough talk by the new Labour Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua.
After losing significant amounts of money, victims now accuse one agency of roping them into the very same scheme they fell prey to in order to reclaim their funds.
Disillusioned job seekers, enraged by the loss of thousands of shillings, have taken drastic action. On Wednesday, September 25, a group stormed the Nairobi offices of the agency, claiming that their promised overseas jobs never materialised.
According to the victims, the agency's doors were shut tight when they arrived, with the number of complaints growing by the minute. The office was linked to a figure with deep ties to government officials, raising suspicions that the scam may have influential backing.
A victim who lost Ksh120,000, shared how she was asked to find another individual willing to pay the same amount in order to get her refund. Realising the nature of the scam, she refused and all communication from the agency ceased. “I knew it was a trap. I refused to let someone else suffer the way I did, and that's when they cut me off completely,” she explained.
For others, the ordeal was even more harrowing. Some who had paid hefty sums for work visas were instead given visitor visas, leaving them stranded abroad. One such victim, who paid nearly Ksh500,000, was promised that an immigration lawyer would meet her upon arrival in the UK to help her convert her visa.
As she boarded her flight, the promised contact details turned out to be a dead end. “They sent a stranger to meet me, but I knew something was wrong and rejected the offer,” she recounted. Left with no support and blocked by the agency, she was forced to rely on a relative for shelter.
Many of the victims had been enticed by slick social media advertisements. Platforms like TikTok and Facebook were awash with videos promising job opportunities in countries like Canada, Germany, and Qatar. The victims, often desperate for a way out of unemployment, were required to pay between Ksh120,000 and Ksh140,000 in facilitation fees.
In return, they were assigned a ‘consultant’ who would submit visa applications on their behalf. However, once the fees were paid, communication became sporadic, and applicants were informed their visa applications had been rejected.
As frustration mounted, victims were told the only way to recover their money was by recruiting new applicants to take their place. For many, the moral dilemma of dragging others into the same situation was unbearable. Some refused, while others—fearing they’d never see their money again—played along. This vicious cycle has ensnared hundreds of Kenyans, leaving many in financial ruin.
A number of victims took the matter to the authorities, filing reports at the Central Police Station. However, with so many being affected and the agency seemingly disappearing without a trace, justice remains elusive. Desperation runs deep among those who feel betrayed by a system that should have safeguarded them from exploitation.
One applicant, who paid Ksh100,000 for a Canadian work visa, recalled how she was promised that the payment would fast-track the process. “They told me it was a sign of how serious I was. I took out a loan and handed over the cash, only for my visa to be denied,” she shared. Her hopes of a better future abroad now shattered, she is one of many who have been left to pick up the pieces of their lives.
