The government has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent recruitment agencies, following a major scam in Eldoret where job seekers were swindled out of millions of shillings by con artists promising fake overseas employment. In a decisive move, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), has flagged 16 rogue agencies operating without registration from the National Employment Authority (NEA).

With more than 1,000 private recruitment agencies in Kenya, the government has now slashed that number to 500 through a stringent vetting process aimed at protecting citizens from further exploitation. Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime revealed that the government has also established a labour migration desk at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to enforce strict compliance with pre-departure protocols for Kenyan migrant workers.

In addition, the Ministry issued new directives requiring all foreign job offers to be vetted and approved by the NEA before Kenyans can apply, and that employment contracts must be officially attested online through the NEA's portal before any travel arrangements are made. Kenyans have been urged to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies via the NEA website, which now clearly marks licensed agencies and blacklists those operating illegally.

This sweeping government action represents a critical step in safeguarding Kenyan workers from the growing menace of recruitment fraud, reinforcing the country’s commitment to protecting its citizens from exploitation in the global labor market.