Pressure is mounting on President William Ruto to act against national government officers who allegedly own rogue recruitment agencies that dupe desperate Kenyans with fake overseas employment opportunities.
The revelations came after senators accused some government officers—including those in the Ministries of Labour and Foreign Affairs—and certain members of the National Assembly’s Labour Committee of owning unscrupulous recruitment agencies.
The bombshell follows testimonies from Kenyan migrant workers stranded in Qatar during a visit by the Senate Trade and Tourism Committee.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi described how desperate job seekers are lured by these agencies, some linked to MPs and government officials, with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, only to be left stranded.
"During a recent visit to Qatar, I met with Kenyan immigrant workers who raised serious concerns regarding their welfare and working conditions," said Mr Mundigi.
He said the workers reported exploitation by unlicensed agents, unsafe working conditions, wage disparities compared to other nationalities and severe emotional distress.
Hundreds of job seekers queue awaiting clearance and interviews at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi on October 25, 2024, during a mass recruitment drive for various job opportunities in Qatari companies.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa shared the plight of Joseph Kiongozi, a Kenyan detained in Saudi Arabia for speaking out about migrant worker suffering. Joseph’s wife passed away shortly after his detention, leaving their child without parents.
"It is a matter of concern that Kenyans in the diaspora, especially in Qatar, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, have suffered for too long," said Senator Thang’wa.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said the exploitation of Kenyans in the Gulf is not new and that the government is aware of the individuals behind these bogus recruitment firms, some of whom are government officials or MPs.
"The starting point is to face the bull by the horns and demand a proper audit of these recruitment firms. Who are the owners? We can easily find out," he said.
Senators called for stricter regulations and urgent action to protect Kenyans, citing cases of deaths, injuries, and stranded citizens.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei urged Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and his principal secretaries to appear before the House to explain the government’s inaction.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi during an interview in his office in Nairobi on May 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chuteurgedd the need to safeguard the safety, dignity and legal rights of Kenyans in Qatar, including preventing exploitation by rogue agents and addressing issues like confiscated passports, unsafe living conditions, and wage disparities.
In May, Mr Mudavadi said his ministry, together with the Ministry of Labour and law enforcement agencies, was working to prosecute rogue agents once sufficient evidence was gathered.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua disclosed a blacklist of 32 recruitment agencies and revealed that investigations into 153 other agencies were ongoing, targeting those operating illegally or with expired licenses.
The senators stressed that despite these efforts, Kenyans continue to suffer overseas, and more decisive government action is urgently needed.
