How Kenyans lost millions in CS Mutua's overseas jobs deal

Fredrick Keene (left), Godfrey Mbote (right) and other victims before the Senate's Labour and Social Welfare Committee chaired by Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku at Bunge Towers, Nairobi, on April 28, 2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] More than 300 Kenyans paid millions of shillings for jobs in the Middle East through a recruitment exercise commissioned by the Ministry of Labour last year, but are yet to secure employment. Representatives of the job seekers who appeared before the Senate Labour Committee on Monday recounted how they each paid between Sh15,000 and Sh55,000 for employment promises that remain unfulfilled months later, despite assurances from State agencies. The Senate committee has summoned Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and the management of the National Employment Authority (NEA) to shed light on the matter, as the ministry directly supervised the much-publicised recruitment drive. "The Senate Labour Committee will ensure the victims of this syndicate get justice. That is why we have invited the Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and NEA management to provide further clarification on the matter next Tuesday," said Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki. Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba disclosed that she had mobilised more than 90 young people to apply for the jobs purportedly available in the Middle East, working closely with the NEA. Orwoba stated that the applicants had since returned to her office, reporting that six months on, they had not been invited to take up the promised positions, "despite having followed the proper procedures". "I am deeply disturbed today, having invested time travelling around to sensitise the youth on these job opportunities, which were advertised by the Ministry of Labour with NEA playing an active role, but none of them has succeeded," said Orwoba. The Senator revealed that she had to contact both the Labour Cabinet Secretary and the NEA Director-General in order to help some victims secure partial refunds from agents who had collected money to facilitate their overseas travel. Orwoba added that certain agencies involved in "swindling" the youth had now sued her for defamation, even though they had failed to fulfil their obligation to secure employment for the applicants. Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi emphasised the gravity of the issue, noting that it involved hundreds of young Kenyans and their families, who had sacrificed the little money they had in the hope of securing jobs abroad. Godfrey Githae, a carpenter from Nyeri, told the committee that he had borrowed Sh55,000 from his wife and in-law for a job opportunity in Iraq that has yet to materialise. He added that his business back home had since collapsed. Githae explained that a group of about 20 were summoned by an agent at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, where they were asked to pay Sh15,000 for medical tests, followed by a further Sh40,000 to process their travel. The fees, they were told, were mandatory for those interested. "We were told that nothing would be offered for free," he said. Despite paying the full amount, Githae said they had yet to receive either the results of their medical tests or their visas. Cash demand He told the committee he had travelled to Nairobi eight times this year to follow up on his application, spending Sh1,200 on each trip. "I borrowed Sh15,000 from my wife for the medical tests and Sh40,000 for the visa from my in-law, who is now demanding a refund. I was told to wait for the visa, which I have not received to date," said Githae. Doreen Biyaki, a grader operator, recounted applying for a driver's job and travelling to Kabete National Polytechnic after the Ministry advertised the vacancies. Following the interviews, they were instructed to pay Sh15,000 for medical tests. Biyaki said they had believed the jobs were to be provided free of charge and requested a paybill number after being asked to pay in cash. Several months later, they are yet to begin work. "We have been requesting refunds and, after seeking assistance from Senator Gloria Orwoba, some of us have received Sh10,000, with Sh5,000 still pending. We are simply asking for our money back in full if there are no jobs for us, as we had high expectations," said Biyaki. Robinson Nyamongo told the committee he had received a refund of Sh10,000 from one Ikusya Kaloki out of the Sh15,000 he paid, a claim confirmed by several of his colleagues, who are also demanding full repayment. James Mwangi, who paid Sh55,000 for a job in Iraq, said he had recovered Sh37,000 through a Kenya Commercial Bank paybill after pursuing the agent, who has yet to commit to refunding the balance. The victims lamented that it was disheartening to lose their hard-earned money under a scheme that was supervised by the Ministry of Labour and the National Employment Authority, which had lent legitimacy to the recruitment process.

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