A rising wave of human trafficking syndicates is targeting desperate job seekers across the country, prompting the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to issue fresh warnings as more Kenyans fall prey to online recruiters, fake agencies and international crime networks.
Foreign and Diaspora Ministry officials say traffickers are now exploiting the country’s high unemployment and the rapid shift to online job platforms to lure unsuspecting applicants into forced labour, cybercrime and other criminal activities.
Victims are mostly the youth who are lured with promises of quick employment, high salaries and free travel, only for them to end up in forced labour, cybercrime rings and, in some cases, trafficking routes linked to conflict zones.
Victims of the Vintmark Travel Agency job scam gather at Jevanjee Gardens in Nairobi on September 25, 2024.
The culprits use fake recruitment agencies, deceptive contracts, and social media adverts that promise unrealistic pay and benefits.
During a Foreign Policy Mashinani outreach in Mombasa, State officials warned that the number of Kenyans being trafficked has risen sharply, with the coastal city among the hotspots where victims are recruited. They said the first step to prevention is recognising the tell-tale signs that a job offer is not genuine.
Director and Head of Welfare and Rights Division Emmah Gicheha said traffickers are now using tactics that are harder to detect, relying heavily on platforms like TikTok, WhatsApp and Telegram to advertise jobs with very little verification.
“Many young people are searching for opportunities abroad, and that desperation is what traffickers capitalise on,” Ms Gicheha said.
She added that when recruiters force job seekers to lie to an immigration officer, one should question the opportunity. "Pose and ask yourself, 'Why should I lie if everything is genuine?'"
In addition, if everything is handled on WhatsApp with no official email, that alone should raise an immediate alarm.
"A genuine employer has nothing to hide," she said.
According to Ms Gicheha, another common red flag is job adverts that sound too good to be true, offers of instant hiring, high salaries, free travel, or free accommodation with no interview or experience required. She said most of those adverts circulate on personal social media accounts rather than through recognised recruitment channels.
Another warning sign is dealing with an agency that has no physical office or a traceable address. Many victims, she said, are instructed to meet recruiters in public places such as malls or bus stations, where no official paperwork is issued and no receipts are given.
“A legitimate recruiter must be traceable. If someone cannot show you where they work from, you need to walk away,” she added.
She also warned against recruitment processes that are rushed or unusually secretive. In many cases, victims are pressured to travel immediately, discouraged from informing their families, or told not to ask questions.
Ms Gicheha said traffickers rely on speed and secrecy because it prevents victims from verifying details or seeking help.
"Fake or incomplete contracts have also become a common tool used by traffickers," she said.
Many victims are given contracts that lack crucial information such as salary, work location, emergency contacts, leave days or working hours. In some instances, the contract is changed orally at the last minute, or the job description shifts entirely upon arrival in the destination country.
“We have seen cases where someone is promised a caregiver or hotel job, only to end up in a cybercrime compound,” Ms Gicheha said, noting that such bait-and-switch tactics are now widespread in trafficking networks operating in Southeast Asia.
Multinational victims of scam centres, who were trafficked into working in Myanmar and were sent to Thailand, wait for their embassies to pick them up, in Tak province, Thailand February 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
Another major danger is travelling without proper work permits. Many victims are told the paperwork will be “sorted on arrival,” only to find themselves undocumented and at the mercy of traffickers who then use immigration threats to control them.
Officials insisted that no Kenyan should leave the country without a verified work permit issued through the correct pathway.
Security experts have also raised the alarm over incidents where large groups of job seekers are transported together without a clear itinerary.
These movements often happen at night or through unofficial routes, with victims stripped of their phones or travel documents. Such patterns, they say, match known trafficking pipelines used to move victims into criminal operations abroad.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently disclosed that more than 200 Kenyans have been deceived into joining Russia’s war efforts after being promised jobs in hospitality and construction. Many were transported through indirect routes and forced into combat roles upon arrival.
A 2022 National Crime Research Centre study also confirmed that trafficking for labour remains the most prevalent form in Kenya, with young women between 18 and 34 years being the most targeted for external trafficking. Children were found to be the main victims of domestic trafficking, especially in domestic servitude.
In January this year, 78 Kenyans were rescued from cybercrime compounds in Myanmar and brought home in an operation led by the Thai government. They had been trafficked under the false promise of hotel employment in Thailand, only to be forced into online scam operations under strict confinement.
Job seekers who allege to have been conned by Mercy Wamuyu, a Murang'a county government employee in pretense that she will help them secure employment positions in the county government.
Photo credit: Martin Mwaura I Nation Media Group
The Foreign Affairs official warned that trafficking in Eastern Africa is evolving rapidly, shifting from traditional exploitation to more complex criminal schemes involving online fraud and financial scams. Many victims are flown out legally but end up trapped in heavily guarded facilities where escape is difficult.
Ms Gicheha urged all job seekers to verify agencies through the National Employment Authority, insist on official communication channels, and involve family members before signing any document.
“Your safety begins with you.No matter how desperate you are, take time to confirm every detail. If anything feels off, walk away,” she said.
As trafficking networks evolve, Kenyan job seekers are being reminded that vigilance, verification and patience remain their strongest defence.
