Government officials charged with issuance of work permits are to blame for the foreigners working in the country without properly ratified documents, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has stated.
The CS on Tuesday admitted that those seeking to work in Kenya were not to blame but put on the spot a few ministry officials who obtain bribes to process employment permits for non-Kenyans.
He revealed that he intends to initiate a radical change to the law to have foreigners illegally in gainful employment forced to work without pay in order to facilitate their deportation air ticket charges.
On Monday, the CS signed three deportation orders estimated to cost the taxpayer at least Sh230,000 each.
[caption caption="File image of Interior CS Fred Matiang'i"]
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"Revocation does not necessarily mean the problem is on the side of applicants. The problem has also been on our end. It is these people that move around to bribe and have the processes done.
"We are the ones who make mistakes and we are willing to correct them," pledged Matiang'i.
Dr. Matiang'i announced that 13 fake work permits were found among 2000 screened this week, adding that the documents will be forwarded to the criminal investigations directorate to help track their processing and have accomplices in the fraud dealt with.
"This financial year we have spent Sh360 Million deporting people. A country of our size can not spend money this way. If we don't curb this, in the next financial year we will need close to Sh500 Million to deport people.
"This is why I am sending an amendment to parliament to allow us to force you to work for your tickets when we hold of you," warned the CS.
He cautioned foreigners illegally employed of dire consequences as some evade taxes and wondered why they would expect to be treated nicely by the authorities whenever they are nabbed.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta with CS Matiang'i at a meeting "]
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The ministry in April embarked on tightening immigration systems issuing a 60-day ultimatum to foreigners working in the country to regularize their work permits.
The government has spoken tough and initiated action against foreigners doing jobs that have qualified Kenyans to do them in a bid to cushion the country's unemployment levels.
