Young Kenyans seeking employment opportunities abroad have been cautioned against using unverified recruitment agents, with authorities warning that many have fallen victim to deception that has exposed them to exploitation, detention, and even armed conflict.

Foreign and Diaspora Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, during the Labour Day celebrations, said overseas work remains a major opportunity for Kenyan youth, but insisted that it must be pursued through approved government systems to guarantee safety and protect workers from criminal networks.

He noted that the government has established structured labour migration pathways, including the Kazi Majuu programme, to ensure Kenyans travel abroad under verified contracts and secure conditions.

“I would like to take this opportunity to ask our youth, when you want to go out in search of employment in various foreign countries, use the Ministry of Labour, National Employment Agency and Diaspora Department. We want you to go and work in a safe environment, in a peaceful environment and earn with your security guaranteed,” he said.

Mudavadi warned that ignoring official procedures has resulted in cases where young people were misled into dangerous environments, including areas experiencing armed conflict, despite having no training for such situations.

“Please use the government institutions so that we can help you to ensure that you go to a safe working environment. We have lost young people in Russia and Myanmar in the so-called golden triangle,” he said.

He said many of those affected were drawn in through fake job promises that offered high salaries and improved living standards, only for them to later find themselves trapped in unsafe and exploitative conditions.

Government data shows that by early April 2026, more than 250 Kenyans are believed to have been recruited into the Russia-Ukraine war, after being lured through misleading job advertisements and promises of foreign citizenship.

Mudavadi disclosed that following diplomatic engagement, he travelled to Moscow where an agreement was reached with Russian authorities to halt further recruitment of Kenyans, while efforts continue to repatriate those still caught up in the conflict.

He added that at least three Kenyans are currently held as prisoners of war in Ukraine, 16 are missing in action, and 38 others are undergoing treatment for injuries in restricted facilities.

The government has also escalated action against illegal recruitment networks, shutting down over 600 agencies suspected of trafficking and misleading job seekers, as repatriation efforts continue for those seeking to return home.

Mudavadi further raised alarm over Kenyans trapped in similar scams in Asia, noting that over 100 were stranded in Myanmar under fake job schemes, with some rescued while others remain detained or in difficult conditions.

Between October 2025 and March 2026, more than 350 Kenyans were rescued from forced labour camps, while others are still believed to be stranded along the Thailand–Myanmar border as operations to recover them continue.

By Andrew Kariuki

Nairobi is set to overhaul its urban sanitation operations following a decision to integrate the Climate Worx programme into the county’s routine clean-up system.

The move, agreed during a high-level planning meeting chaired by Green Nairobi CEC Member Maureen Njeri, brings together national and county agencies in a coordinated effort to streamline waste management and improve environmental enforcement across the city.

Under the new framework, Climate Worx teams will be absorbed into the Nairobi City County Government sanitation structure, with their roles incorporated into daily operations such as street sweeping, drainage clearing, vegetation control, litter collection and general waste handling.

Officials say the shift is designed to eliminate duplication of roles and move away from periodic clean-up campaigns toward a more consistent, citywide system.

The restructuring also introduces tighter supervision at the sub-county level. County Commissioners and Deputy County Commissioners will oversee attendance and chair biweekly coordination meetings to monitor deployment and performance.

While operational control will remain under the county government, the National Youth Service will provide additional field supervision to enhance discipline and coordination.

To boost waste collection efficiency, the county, working with the Nairobi Rivers Commission and NYS, will deploy additional trucks aimed at improving garbage transport and reducing delays.

Authorities are also intensifying action against illegal dumping, with each sub-county set to establish multi-agency enforcement teams comprising national administration officers, police and county enforcement units.

Officials describe the plan as a transition from fragmented efforts to a structured system with clear accountability, expected to improve cleanliness, reduce drainage blockages and enhance waste management.

However, they noted that enforcement alone will not be sufficient, calling for increased public awareness and cooperation from residents.

Nairobi South County Commissioner Simon Osumba urged the adoption of clear performance targets to track progress and strengthen accountability as implementation begins.

Authorities say the success of the programme will depend on sustained inter-agency coordination, consistent enforcement and active public participation.

By Andrew Kariuki

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is attending a thanksgiving ceremony in Kitengela hosted by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) chairman David Ole Parseina.

Gachagua is accompanied by his spouse, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, and a section of legislators allied to him.

Among those present are James Gakuya, Jane Kihara and Wanjiku Muhia.

The event brings together political leaders and supporters, coming at a time of ongoing realignments within the country’s political landscape.

Kenya Power has announced scheduled power interruptions in parts of Kisumu County on Saturday, May 2.

In a notice on Friday, May 1, the company said the planned outage is part of routine maintenance, and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

According to Kenya Power, the outage will affect areas within Kisian.

Locations set to experience the interruption include Ojola Market, Kisian Market, Kisian Railway, Rock, and all adjacent customers.

This comes weeks after Kenya Power issued a notice to customers across the country as it began rolling out a new electricity meter reading system.

In a notice on Tuesday, March 10, Kenya Power said the new technology would modernize how its teams captured meter readings, replacing the traditional manual process.

According to the company, the system worked by scanning the meter display rather than relying on staff to manually input numbers.

“Kenya Power has introduced an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system for electricity meter reading.

“The OCR system allows our teams to scan meter displays directly, instead of manually typing meter numbers and readings. This improves the accuracy and efficiency of billing, helping ensure customers receive correct bills,” the notice read.

Kenya Power noted that some challenges had emerged during the early stages of the nationwide rollout, particularly when meter readers were unable to access meters located inside locked premises or secured boxes.

“As the system is being rolled out across the country, we have noted that locked premises and meter boxes are the main challenge affecting meter reading,” the notice added.

Because of this, the company asked customers to cooperate with staff when they visited homes or business premises to take meter readings.

“Customers are therefore kindly requested to allow our staff access to meters within their premises, including opening meter boxes where necessary,” the notice continued.

Kenya Power reassured customers about safety and verification procedures when staff visited their premises to take readings.

“For your safety, all Kenya Power staff visiting customer premises will carry official identification cards with their staff number and national ID details. Customers can also verify anyone claiming to be a Kenya Power employee by dialling *977# and selecting the Jua for Sure option,” the notice concluded.

By Andrew Kariuki

George Ruto has sparked online debate after his social media activity appeared to endorse criticism directed at his father, President William Ruto.

The reaction followed a post circulating online that criticised the President for relaunching a technical and vocational training project in Kiharu, Murang’a County, which had reportedly already been commissioned earlier.

The post, which attracted widespread attention, questioned the move, suggesting the project had already been completed and operational before the recent event.

George Ruto, through his Instagram account, was seen to have liked the post, a move that quickly drew attention from netizens and fueled online discussion.

The development comes amid growing public scrutiny over claims that some government projects are being relaunched despite having been previously completed.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro had also criticised the move, arguing that projects funded through constituency allocations should not be rebranded or relaunched.

Online reactions have since been mixed, with some users expressing frustration over government communication on development projects, while others dismissed the concerns or defended the administration.

The incident has further amplified ongoing conversations around transparency, accountability and public perception in government project implementation.