KAKAMEGA, Kenya — The Kenyan government has rescued 20 citizens who were duped by fraudulent overseas job schemes, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has revealed, as he warned young people to exercise extreme caution when seeking employment abroad.
Speaking on Saturday during the burial of Mama Fanny Asigo Malova in Kipkaren, Kakamega County, Mudavadi said some Kenyans had been lured out of the country with promises of lucrative jobs, only to end up in dangerous situations, including active war zones and human trafficking networks.
“I want to tell our people to remain alert. We have seen young people leaving the country claiming they are going to work abroad, only to be duped. Some sign contracts and later find themselves in war zones in Russia and Ukraine. The Government of Kenya has saved 20 Kenyans who had been caught up in this scam,” Mudavadi stated.
He urged job seekers to verify all overseas employment offers before travelling, stressing that due diligence could save lives.
“Please send a message to the Ministry of Labour, NEA and the Department of Diaspora so we can help you confirm whether an opportunity is legitimate. Some leave without even informing their families. We have lost lives, others have been injured, and we are working to have them repatriated,” he added, noting that even relatives of senior public officials had fallen victim to such schemes.
Rising concern over conflict-linked recruitment
Mudavadi’s remarks come amid growing concern over reports that Kenyans have been recruited into the Russia–Ukraine war, raising alarm over gaps in employment verification and migration oversight.
On Friday, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence agency claimed that three Kenyans allegedly recruited into Russia’s war effort were killed in eastern Ukraine.
The agency said the bodies of Ombwori Denis Bagaka, Wahome Simon Gititu and Clinton Nyapara Mogesa were found near Lyman in the Donetsk region.
The reports have intensified scrutiny of Kenya’s labour mobility programme, which aims to create opportunities for citizens to work abroad while safeguarding their rights and welfare.
Government response and labour safeguards
Mudavadi said the government is pursuing bilateral labour agreements with foreign countries to create safer, transparent and more regulated pathways for Kenyans seeking employment overseas.
Such agreements, he said, are designed to curb exploitation and ensure host countries uphold labour protections.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has previously defended the programme, noting that the majority of Kenyans who travel abroad secure legitimate employment, particularly in the Middle East, Europe and parts of Asia.
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However, he has acknowledged that gaps in verification have allowed criminal networks to exploit vulnerable job seekers.
Mutua has repeatedly urged families and applicants to confirm offers through the National Employment Authority (NEA), which licenses recruitment agencies and maintains a public register of approved firms.
Fraudsters, he warned, often rely on visitor visas, forged contracts and social media recruitment to trap unsuspecting victims.
The government says investigations into illegal recruitment networks are ongoing, while diplomatic efforts continue to secure the safe return of Kenyans stranded or injured abroad.
As cases linked to conflict zones and trafficking emerge, officials are calling for heightened public awareness, urging youths to resist pressure to travel without proper documentation, verification or official clearance.
