Govt Warns Young Kenyans to Verify Job Offers Before Seeking Work Abroad

Kenya is stepping up efforts to prepare young people for jobs abroad, with the Government urging prospective migrant workers to verify job offers, gain the required skills and obtain the necessary documents before travelling.

The message was delivered during a diaspora sensitisation exercise at Kianjai Primary School in Tigania West, Meru County, held alongside the third edition of the Kazi Majuu Football Tournament. The outreach aimed to bring information on overseas employment closer to communities, particularly young people considering migration in search of better economic opportunities.

Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs Roseline Kathure Njogu said young people seeking jobs abroad needed reliable information and proper preparation before leaving the country.

“Our role is not just to connect Kenyans to jobs abroad, but to ensure that every prospective diaspora worker understands the processes, the opportunities, the risks and the Government support services available to them,” Njogu said.

The Government's focus comes as more young Kenyans seek employment abroad in pursuit of higher incomes and opportunities that may be limited in the local labour market. Jobseekers can, however, face fraudulent recruitment schemes, unlicensed agents, exploitation and irregular migration if they leave without proper documentation or information.

Njogu was joined by Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cooperatives Patrick Kilemi, who called for greater cooperation among government agencies and other stakeholders involved in preparing young people for international employment.

The approach places greater emphasis on skills, documentation, worker protection and access to accurate information alongside recruitment. It is intended to help prospective migrant workers understand the recruitment process, the conditions they may encounter abroad and the support services available to them.The Kianjai outreach brought together national and county government representatives, development partners and private-sector organisations. The National Employment Authority, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, HAART Kenya, Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Huduma Kenya and Premier Maritime Training Institute provided information on employment pathways, skills development, enterprise support and other public services.

The participation of several institutions reflects the different stages involved in securing employment abroad. Prospective migrant workers may need to identify legitimate vacancies, meet recruitment requirements and obtain the necessary travel and employment documents before taking up jobs overseas.

Providing this information at community level could help jobseekers identify legitimate recruitment channels and avoid fraudulent agents who take advantage of limited access to information.  The Government is seeking to make labour migration a more structured process by encouraging young people to verify job offers and use recognised recruitment channels. The aim is to reduce the risk of workers being exposed to deceptive recruitment practices and unsafe working conditions abroad.

When properly managed, international labour migration can provide young Kenyans with employment, skills, income and professional experience. It can also strengthen diaspora networks and contribute to the economy through remittances, making safe and legal migration an important part of the Government's labour mobility efforts.