Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has ordered 89 flagged recruitment agencies and individuals accused of fraudulent overseas job placements to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday, July 21, 2025.
In a statement shared via his official social media platforms, CS Mutua disclosed that the summons come after mounting complaints from the public, with many Kenyans accusing these agencies of operating without proper registration and exploiting job seekers through fake promises of employment abroad.
“If you’re posing as a travel or recruitment agency and engaging in job placement without proper registration or licenses, we will come after you,” warned Mutua. “You risk being taken on a long-term holiday to prison.”
The CS stated that failure by the named agencies and individuals to honour the summons will result in immediate legal consequences, including arrests, prosecutions, and deregistration.
The move is part of the government’s broader crackdown on illegal labour mobility practices, following growing criticism of the ministry’s labour export program. While the program aims to create job opportunities for Kenyans abroad, critics have raised alarms over the lack of oversight, alleging that many Kenyans are being funneled into abusive, low-paying jobs.
“Kenyans deserve safe, transparent, and dignified access to overseas employment. We will not relent until every rogue agent is held accountable,” Mutua said.
He urged the public to continue reporting suspicious agencies and individuals to the Multi-Agency Response Team at NSSF, assuring whistleblowers and victims of protection.
In his post, Mutua published a partial list of the flagged agencies and individuals, calling on the public to help notify them of the summons.
The development marks a decisive step by the Ministry of Labour in restoring public confidence in Kenya’s labour migration initiatives and protecting vulnerable citizens from exploitation.
Written By Rodney Mbua
