Labour CS Alfred Mutua Launches Aggressive Crackdown on Fraudulent Recruitment Agencies in Kenya

In a bold move to protect Kenyans from exploitation, newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Alfred Mutua, has declared war on fraudulent recruitment agencies. In his first major policy directive since assuming office, Mutua vowed to seize and auction the properties of agencies found guilty of scamming jobseekers with false promises of employment abroad.

Addressing the nation on Friday, August 9, during a send-off ceremony for 350 seasonal workers heading to the United Kingdom, Mutua issued a one-week ultimatum to illegal recruitment agencies. He demanded that they shut down their operations and leave the country, warning of severe consequences for those who fail to comply.

"There are many young people who have been conned of their money. We are going to ensure those involved are arrested, jailed, and their assets seized to compensate the victims," Mutua declared. "I want to give notice to rogue agents that your time is up."

This crackdown comes amidst growing public outrage and increasing pressure on the government to address the rampant fraud in the recruitment sector. A recent investigation by the National Employment Authority (NEA) revealed that over 400 out of 1029 registered recruitment agencies are operating without valid permits. The situation is particularly dire in Eldoret, where many agencies have either lapsed registrations or are completely unregistered.

One high-profile case that sparked national outcry involved a televangelist who allegedly defrauded Ksh600 million from over 4,000 jobseekers, who each paid between Ksh100,000 and Ksh140,000 for non-existent jobs in countries like the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Mutua’s crackdown aims to restore integrity in the recruitment sector and provide justice to the thousands of Kenyans who have been deceived. His strong stance signals a new era of accountability, with the Labour Ministry promising to root out the corruption that has long plagued the industry.