The government has deregistered 680 recruitment agencies across the country for flouting regulations, in an ongoing crackdown targeting fraudulent labour migration schemes.
The move, according to the Ministry of Labour, is part of efforts to restore order in the foreign employment sector and protect thousands of desperate Kenyans from exploitation by fake job brokers.
The deregistration follows investigations that found the affected firms had flouted labour regulations, operated without valid licences, and exposed job seekers to abuse and financial losses. The crackdown was triggered by a viral video of angry youth from the Coast region protesting in July after falling victim to fake job recruiters.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said at least 100 formal complaints have been filed with the Multi-Agency Labour Mobility Taskforce, with victims in 15 counties losing more than Sh17.3 million to con artists who promised them lucrative jobs abroad.
“Most of the victims coming to us were promised well-paying jobs overseas, only to be left devastated, broke, and in some cases, stranded without travel documents,” Dr Mutua said in an interview.
He warned that rogue recruitment agents and their accomplices will face arrest, prosecution and deregistration, saying the government is determined to safeguard Kenyans seeking work abroad.
“We are deeply concerned by the growing number of cases where unscrupulous individuals pose as licensed agents, collect money and vanish. Kenyans deserve safe, structured and dignified paths to work abroad and we will protect that right with all tools at our disposal,” said Dr Mutua.
Dr Alfred Mutua, former governor of Machakos County.
Photo credit: Nation Media Group
To strengthen oversight, the CS said the government has established a One-Stop Centre to handle complaints and enhance coordination among agencies involved in labour migration.
Investigations by the taskforce have uncovered elaborate scams where victims, mostly youth, were duped with promises of high-paying jobs in countries such as Canada, Qatar, Australia and Germany. After paying ‘processing fees’ running into tens of thousands of shillings, the agents would disappear, leaving them stranded and in debt.
During a recent meeting with the Kenyan diaspora community in Doha, Qatar, President William Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safe and structured labour migration. He said the deregistration of rogue recruiters was part of broader reforms aimed at protecting migrant workers.
“The government is ensuring deployment only to countries with formal bilateral labour agreements that safeguard our workers while expanding access to dignified and well-paying opportunities abroad,” President Ruto said.
President William Ruto during an event on April 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Dr Mutua also urged Kenyans to avoid travelling on tourist visas to seek jobs, warning that doing so exposes them to legal and welfare risks. The CS further cautioned against buying travel packages or overseas job offers from unverified operators, saying only agencies accredited by the National Employment Authority (NEA) are legally authorised to recruit.
National chairman of private recruitment agencies, Mwalimu Mwaguzo, lauded efforts by the government to bring sanity to the sector. He said most of the deregistered firms were found to have violated regulations designed to protect Kenyan workers abroad.
“Some agencies failed to renew their licences, yet continued to operate illegally. Each is required to pay an annual renewal fee of Sh250,000, but you will find some last renewed in 2020 and still have recruited workers. Such firms are automatically deregistered,” said Mr Mwaguzo.
Mwalimu Mwaguzo, the chairman of the private recruitment agencies operating under the Pwani Welfare Association at a press conference in Mombasa.
Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi I Nation
He added that agencies that fail to respond to complaints about workers’ welfare abroad also face deregistration.
“When domestic workers in Gulf countries file complaints, the agencies that deployed them are called upon to intervene and bring them home. Those that ignore such obligations are denied licence renewal or deregistered,” he explained.
Mr Mwaguzo said others use fake certificates or take youth abroad under false promises of employment, leaving them stranded. He added that some agents even defraud their partners overseas.
“We have seen cases where Kenyan agents receive advance payments from foreign partners and then block communication. Once reported, such cases lead to deregistration,” he said.
While supporting the government’s clean-up, he urged transparency in licence renewal decisions.
“We support the move. It is harsh but necessary to bring sanity and remove fraudsters. However, some agencies are rejected without clear reasons only being told it is for national security. If you complain, you are told to appeal but what can you appeal about when you don't even know your offense?" he questioned.
Another agent, Mr Juma Mwangala, said some of the deregistered firms were mere brokers without accreditation.
“We have genuine brokers and licensed agencies. But some could not renew their license due to low business. The government needs to distinguish between defaulters and fraudsters,” he said.
