Government Bans 400 Recruitment Agencies Over Fake Overseas Jobs
News Updated: 03 December 2025 13:00 EAT
NEA Chairman Mr vinv
The government has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent overseas job networks by banning 400 recruitment agencies accused of sending Kenyans to non-existent jobs abroad. National Employment Authority (NEA) Chairman Vincent Kigen confirmed the move, saying the targeted firms had been operating in violation of licensing requirements and exposing desperate jobseekers to exploitation.
Kigen noted that many of the banned agencies lured applicants with promises of high-paying positions in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, only for the opportunities to turn out to be fake or grossly misrepresented. He added that the NEA had received a surge in complaints from victims who had paid substantial fees and surrendered critical documents, including passports, before realising the advertised jobs did not exist.
The crackdown follows growing concerns over the rise of trafficking networks and fraudulent labour brokers who prey on unemployed youth seeking opportunities abroad. Authorities say the banned agencies had failed multiple compliance checks, operated without valid permits or engaged in deceptive practices that endangered the welfare and safety of Kenyan workers.
Kigen urged the public to verify the legitimacy of any recruitment agency through the NEA before committing money or documentation, emphasising that the clean-up exercise will continue. He said the government remains committed to protecting citizens from fraudulent schemes and ensuring that only credible, transparent and fully licensed agencies operate in the labour export sector.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD