CS Alfred Mutua Orders DCI Investigation Into Illegal Labour Recruiters

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has officially directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to begin an in-depth investigation into companies illegally recruiting Kenyans for fake jobs abroad.

The directive follows increasing reports that many of the companies deceiving job seekers are travel agencies. Mutua confirmed this in a press statement issued on Friday, July 18, as part of a wider crackdown on dishonest agents and unlawful employment practices targeting vulnerable Kenyans.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, a review of formal complaints revealed that out of 62 companies flagged by victims, a large number were travel agencies exploiting job seekers. He made it clear that these companies have no legal authority to engage in labour recruitment activities.

“Travel agencies are NOT licensed to recruit people for jobs. Any company doing so without certification from the Ministry of Labour and the National Employment Authority (NEA) is operating illegally,” said Mutua.

Mutua added that all companies and individuals involved had been ordered to report to the DCI at the Multi-Agency Taskforce Office in the NSSF Building by 2 pm on Monday, July 21. Although he did not publicly name the suspects, the directive is part of a push to hold wrongdoers accountable.

Since forming the Labour Mobility Multi-Agency Response Team, the ministry has received 84 official complaints from 15 counties across Kenya. These complaints reveal that unsuspecting Kenyans have lost approximately Ksh17.3 million to fraudsters posing as foreign job placement agencies.

One of the most disturbing revelations from these complaints is that some of the scammers have held on to victims’ passports for over a year. This not only robbed them of promised opportunities but also denied them their right to freedom and dignity.

Mutua pointed out that most of the accused companies and individuals had no proper registration, had been deregistered, were not complying with labour migration laws, or were avoiding taxes.

As part of the ministry’s immediate response, the Cabinet Secretary ordered the summoned individuals to surrender any complainants’ passports still in their possession when appearing before the task force.

In addition, the ministry has fast-tracked the processing of older cases that had caused backlogs. These have now been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for legal action.

“We are not just investigating — arrests and prosecutions of suspects will begin immediately,” Mutua firmly stated.

He also appealed to other Kenyans who have been scammed or misled by illegal job agencies to come forward. A multi-agency team will be available at the NSSF Building from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 1 pm, to receive reports and verify evidence.

For those who live outside Nairobi, the ministry has provided a toll-free number — 0800 222 223 — to guide victims on how to report their cases remotely.

Mutua’s stern measures come as part of a renewed effort to protect Kenyans from falling victim to fraudulent foreign job offers, while ensuring only certified, legal recruitment practices are allowed in the country.

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