More than 300 Kenyans are now victims of a heartbreaking overseas job scam that has led the Senate to summon Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and top officials from the National Employment Authority.
The scam, which promised jobs abroad in exchange for payments ranging from Sh15,000 to Sh55,000, has left these hopeful citizens stranded without employment months later. What makes this scandal even worse is that the recruitment was reportedly backed by the Ministry of Labour, raising serious questions about government oversight and accountability.
On April 28, 2025, the Senate Labour Committee chaired by Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku formally summoned CS Mutua and the NEA team to explain how such a massive failure occurred right under their noses. The meeting, held at Bunge Towers in Nairobi, followed a wave of public outrage sparked by an X post from Moe, which brought attention to the issue. The post quickly went viral and attracted replies from many Kenyans who voiced their frustrations, with some accusing the government of being complicit or careless.
The distrust is deep, with some referring to leaders as conmen and saying this is just another example of how ordinary citizens are constantly taken advantage of.
Several reports reveal that Kenyans paid these large amounts to agencies allegedly working under the Ministry’s recruitment drive for jobs in the Middle East.
However, these agencies failed to deliver. Some job seekers who went through companies like Global Face Human Resources Ltd are still waiting for refunds. Many now find themselves in financial distress, having borrowed or sold property to chase what they thought were government-supported opportunities.
CS Alfred Mutua has since tried to calm the situation by advising Kenyans on how to detect fake job offers. He told job seekers to ensure job approvals are stamped by embassies and to watch out for suspiciously high salaries or travel visas issued instead of work permits.
However, this advice has not gone down well with many, who see it as too little too late. They argue that it was Mutua’s job in the first place to prevent such fraud from happening, especially since the recruitment was done under his Ministry’s name.
Political pressure is also mounting, with Senator Gloria Orwoba publicly calling for his dismissal. She pointed out that the Ministry had allowed fake recruitment agencies to operate freely and even shared her own past experience of nearly being scammed by a seemingly legitimate company.
This scandal comes at a time when Kenya is trying to boost overseas employment through state-backed job placements. Last year, the government announced plans to help over 20,000 Kenyans get jobs abroad. But with this scandal now in the spotlight, many are questioning the credibility of these programs and whether they are safe for citizens.
The involvement of the Ministry in a scam of this size is worrying. It suggests either deep incompetence or active corruption. Kenyans who paid these fees believed they were participating in an official process backed by the state. When such trust is broken, it becomes very difficult for people to believe in government programs again.
While CS Mutua may insist that he warned Kenyans about scammers, it is his Ministry’s role to ensure that recruitment is safe and transparent. Telling victims to do their own investigations is not a solution when the state is involved in the process.
The Senate inquiry will now have to go deep to find out who benefitted from the millions collected from innocent Kenyans and what steps will be taken to refund the victims. The outcome of this probe may determine whether the government can still be trusted with future overseas job programs.
Until then, many affected families are left in limbo, wondering how a promise of a better life turned into such a painful betrayal.
Add Comment