Kenyans Seeking Jobs Abroad Warned as NEA Investigates 390 Fraud Cases

The National Employment Authority (NEA) has urged Kenyans seeking jobs abroad to verify recruitment agencies before making any payments, amid investigations into hundreds of alleged fraud cases.

NEA said job seekers should first confirm that the recruitment agency is registered and licensed before engaging its services. The verification can be carried out through the National Employment Authority Integrated Management System (NEAIMS), which lists licensed recruitment agencies.

The Authority also advised applicants to verify that the specific job being advertised is genuine and can be confirmed through NEAIMS. This is intended to protect job seekers from fraudulent offers that promise lucrative employment abroad but may expose them to exploitation or trafficking.

The warning follows revelations earlier this year by Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua that 390 cases involving alleged labour and travel agency fraud were under investigation. Of these, 116 involved travel agents reportedly not registered with either NEA or the Business Registration Service.

A multi-agency task force comprising officials from the Ministry of Labour, the Attorney General’s Office, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has since forwarded 15 case files for possible prosecution.

NEA’s guidance comes as fraudulent recruitment schemes continue to target job seekers looking for employment opportunities abroad. The Authority said verifying agencies and job offers before making payments can help workers avoid financial losses and reduce their exposure to exploitation in foreign labour markets.

Kenyans seeking overseas employment have therefore been advised to use legitimate recruitment channels and confirm the credentials of both agencies and advertised jobs through official systems before proceeding.