Kenyans travelling to Canada have been advised to follow the correct travel channels and be wary of fake travel agents.
The Canadian High Commission hailed Kenya's efforts to tighten loopholes and crack down on unscrupulous and fraudulent agents, going as far as revoking their licences, but warned travellers to remain vigilant.
"Kenya and Canada are working together to share information and support investigations against those behind human smuggling schemes and those facilitating the irregular movement of people to Canada," Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya Christopher Thornley said.
"However, Kenyans need to be on the lookout, ensure they follow the correct procedures for travelling to Canada, and be wary of scammers," Thornley warned.
The commission revealed that it is collaborating with Kenya to take decisive steps to address irregular migration, safeguard the public from visa scams, and advocate for ethical recruitment practices.
Speaking during the Safe, Orderly and Legal Migration from Kenya to Canada campaign, held at the Canadian High Commission office in Nairobi on Thursday, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Immigration, Julius Bitok, assured the High Commission that Kenya is making efforts to enable its citizens to find employment abroad legally.
"We promote safe and orderly migration. It is important that we are as open as possible about job opportunities both in Canada and in Kenya, and that we shield our youth from scams and disorderly immigration," Bitok said.
Bitok suggested that jobs available in Canada should have specific trackable codes, allowing Kenyans to verify their authenticity and avoid falling victim to fraudulent job offers.
The State Department for Immigration revealed that the crackdown on fake agents is still ongoing and that the department has re-vetted private recruitment agencies.
Both Canada and Kenya have reaffirmed their commitment to working together, alongside partner organisations, to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration.
This is not the first time Kenyans travelling to Canada and other foreign countries have been warned about scammers. Many Kenyans have fallen victim to these fraudsters and ended up losing money to them.
Just a month ago, the German Embassy warned Kenyans to be cautious and avoid falling prey to fraudsters posing as recruiters for jobs in Germany. The embassy pointed out that its visa section had been particularly affected by fraudulent cases due to Kenyans engaging with rogue recruitment agencies.
