Govt Takes Safe Overseas Jobs Campaign to West Pokot

The government has taken its campaign for safer overseas employment to West Pokot County, where officials are providing residents with information on legitimate recruitment channels and diaspora services.

Officials from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) visited the county this week under the Diaspora Mashinani programme, which seeks to bring government services and information on migration closer to communities across the country. The programme is intended to help prospective migrant workers access reliable information before pursuing employment abroad, particularly as cases of fraudulent recruitment and exploitation continue to pose risks to job seekers.

The delegation, led by Jennifer Wanami of the SDDA’s Skills and Expertise Division, held meetings with county and national government officials to discuss labour mobility and the protection of Kenyans seeking work overseas. At the West Pokot Governor’s Office, Deputy Governor Robert Komolle received the delegation and discussed areas where the county and national government could work together to improve information and support for prospective migrant workers.

The discussions focused on legitimate routes for securing employment abroad, access to accurate information and measures to combat fraudulent recruitment and human trafficking. Officials also stressed the importance of ensuring that job seekers understand the risks of dealing with unverified agents.

The team also met West Pokot County Commissioner David Saruni to explain the objectives of the programme and discuss cooperation with national government administrative structures at the local level. National Government Administration Officers are expected to play a key role in the initiative by helping distribute verified information within local communities. 

The government has increasingly promoted overseas employment as part of its wider strategy to expand access to jobs, increase remittances and provide Kenyans with opportunities to gain skills and experience abroad. At the same time, fraudulent recruitment schemes, illegal agents and human trafficking remain risks for people seeking employment outside the country.

The Diaspora Mashinani programme is designed to take information and services beyond major urban centres and closer to communities where access to official migration information may be limited. Through the West Pokot outreach, the SDDA is seeking to improve public understanding of overseas employment procedures and strengthen cooperation between national and county authorities in protecting migrant workers.