Desperate Kenyans seeking overseas jobs continue to recount harrowing experiences at the hands of rogue recruitment agencies over the past year.
This comes even as some recruitment firms paint a grim picture of the situation in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, accusing their counterparts in the host countries of frustrating efforts once jobseekers arrive.
The National Employment Authority was put on the spot by the Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee for failing to deregister fraudulent agencies, despite numerous complaints.
The session was chaired by nominated Senator Crystal Asige (vice chairperson).
Many of the victims, who applied for jobs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia late last year, say they have yet to receive visas, citing prolonged delays, poor communication, and a lack of accountability from recruitment firms.
Victim Belinda Ouma narrated how she, along with others, paid Sh100,000 to Vintmak Recruitment Agency in 2023, but has neither travelled nor received a refund.
“Before they could process my documents, I was told to deposit Sh100,000, which I did. I have waited for over eight months, but nothing has happened. When I went back to demand a refund, the officials vanished,” she said.
Alex Ogutu has been seeking a refund of Sh56,000 from Global Face Recruitment Agency in Mombasa, to no avail.
Speaking through his representative, he said he applied for a job in Qatar, only for the agency to later inform him he was over the required age limit.
“Alex paid Sh56,000 for processing and was later told he couldn't travel because of his age. But why didn’t they flag this issue at the beginning during payment and documentation? We’ve been following up since February with no results,” he said.
Ogutu’s case drew strong reactions from senators Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Miraj Abdullahi (nominated) and Beth Syengo (nominated), who demanded that the agency refund the money immediately.
“If the officials of Face Global are present, they must commit to refunding not just Alex’s money, but also that of other victims who are not here today,” Madzayo said.
In response, Festus Omwamba, director of Global Face Human Resource Limited, admitted that Ogutu had paid Sh56,000 and pledged that the agency would refund him.
He clarified, however, that while some applications failed, the agency had successfully deployed hundreds of jobseekers to the Middle East.
“We have consistently sent jobseekers abroad. Currently, only 26 clients are pending refunds. We undertake to refund Alex and the rest within one month,” Omwamba saod.
Senator Asige ruled that the refund to Ogutu be processed immediately and directed the agency to furnish the committee with a full list of applicants, including those refunded and those still awaiting their money.
“Face Global must submit the names of all jobseekers they dealt with, indicating payments and refunds. They must also give a clear timeline for completing all pending refunds,” she said.
Mallow Smarthighers Limited director Nasra Ibrahim came under sharp criticism after admitting that her agency had been sending jobseekers to Iraq without a Bilateral Labour Agreement (BLA) in place.
This came to light after Francis Muchoki, a jobseeker from Murang’a, testified that he had applied for a job in Qatar, only to be later told he would instead be deployed to Iraq under unclear terms.
“I had already received a job letter and attended pre-departure training. But now the job has changed to Iraq. My medical and good conduct certificates have already expired. If the job eventually comes through, I’ll have to redo all the tests at my own cost,” Muchoki said.
In its defence, NEA, through its director general Edith Okoki, told the committee that while some job seekers had already travelled, others were still being held back by issues such as incomplete documentation, lack of funds for travel, failed medical tests, or a change of heart by the applicants.
She said the first major recruitment drive was conducted between November 20 and 27, 2024, and covered Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Nakuru, Baringo and Nyandarua.
“The exercise attracted more than 1,000 prospective migrant workers from across Kenya. It also highlighted opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and growth. On the final day, 300 successful applicants were flagged off by the Deputy President to the State of Qatar,” Okoki said.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The government has formed a multi-agency task force mandated to investigate, arrest and prosecute individuals and companies implicated in defrauding Kenyans seeking jobs abroad, as part of a renewed crackdown on rogue recruitment agents. Victims have been urged to present evidence at a newly created one-stop centre at the NSSF Building from Thursday, July 17, 2025. Labour and Social Protection CS Alfred Mutua said the government is alarmed by the growing number of Kenyans falling victim to fraudsters posing as licensed recruitment agents.
