Labour and Social Protection CS Alfred Mutua with job-seekers at KICC during a recruitment drive for jobs in Qatar.
Tens of Kenyans who paid government-backed recruitment agencies thousands of shillings to secure jobs abroad feel cheated as they have not heard anything months later.
At least 48 job-seekers who paid Global Face Human Resources Ltd, Monisa Company Ltd and Mallow SmartHires Ltd are yet to get the promised refunds.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the National Employment Authority have partnered with private firms to link Kenyans with prospective employers abroad.
The companies partnering with the government institutions to recruit Kenyans for jobs abroad include Bluewave Agency, DRA Agency, Epic Manpower, Global Face Human Resource, Iceberg Agency, Mallow Smart Hires, Monisa Agency, Shakale Agency and Workstar Agency.
The ministry appointed a man identified as Moses Mbithi as the coordinator of the agencies. It is not clear how the ministry settled on Mr Mbithi as he is not a civil servant.
“He has been holding meetings at ministry offices linked to this jobs abroad thing,” a Ministry of Labour official who requested anonymity said.
Last Sunday, Mr Mbithi promised to link the Daily Nation with people who would answer our questions.
Follow-up calls and text messages to his known mobile phone number went unanswered on Tuesday.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said on the same day that people unwilling to endure the delays in travelling abroad for jobs have got their money back.
“No one was conned. All who paid the fee and do not wish to wait have been told to get their money. No one asking for a refund has been denied. Many will travel, even this week,” Dr Mutua said.
The minister added that anyone who feels cheated should file a complaint with police and that he would help the individuals get justice should the grouses be genuine.
He, however, added that if anyone lies about being defrauded, he or she would be prosecuted.
“Those being used for other agendas should know that lying could lead to prosecution. The rights of those seeking jobs have to be protected,” Dr Mutua said.
Hundreds of job seekers await clearance and interviews at KICC, Nairobi.
“In the same vein, the image of agencies that comply with the law should also be protected. Rogue agencies will be dealt with.”
Dennis Moberu* thought his 11-year stint as a farmhand had come to an end in October when he paid Sh15,000 to Global Face Human Resources Ltd. The agency had advertised jobs abroad for Kenyans.
The 30-year-old was among 41 people who underwent medical tests after paying the money demanded by Global Face Human Resources.
Also Read: How jobs, pay crisis hits families
Moberu says he borrowed the money from friends, neighbours and relatives.
Two weeks later, those who applied for drivers jobs were informed that they would be leaving for the United Arab Emirates, while others like Moberu that sought construction work would follow “sooner”.
There is no sign of the jobs or refunds for the 31 applicants six months later.
“I was excited on paying the Sh15,000 which was for medical tests before I could land the job of my dreams outside Kenya,” Mr Moberu says.
“The agency said we would leave for the UAE in two weeks. It is six months and communication has stopped.”
Police records indicate that Mr Festus Omwamba was arrested on March 27 when job-seekers filed complaints against him. He was freed on a Sh200,000 police bond.
Mr Omwamba, however, denied being arrested in connection with complaints against his firm. He says applicants are still in Kenya on account of visa delays.
“It is just a matter of delayed visas. Some of those with complaints got visas last week,” he says.
Mr Omwamba adds that another complaint by a woman from Kibra had also been resolved after she got a visa.
He says police involvement followed pressure from Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba.
“The senator said the job-seekers were being conned and asked for the recruitment to be stopped and refunds made. Some have taken the decision to proceed and will get their visas soon,” he says.
Of the 41 Global Face Human Resource clients, only 10 got partial refunds of Sh10,000 each. The remaining are yet to receive a penny.
On March 26, Senator Orwoba urged the House to investigate the recruitment by private agencies supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, following numerous complaints.
The lawmaker asked the Senate to investigate the status of people recruited and the ownership of the agencies.
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