NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has resumed the second phase of its overseas job recruitment programme following a temporary suspension prompted by escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns over fraud.
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said the pause allowed authorities to assess the security situation in key labour destinations while also strengthening oversight systems to protect job seekers.
The suspension also enabled investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into cases where fraudulent agents exploited the recruitment drive to scam unsuspecting applicants.
Mutua warned that some rogue recruiters had been using informal channels, including phone numbers registered under deceased individuals, to defraud job seekers.
“Do your due diligence,” he stated.
Applicants were urged to verify recruitment agencies through the National Employment Authority (NEA) and report suspicious activity via its toll-free line.
Speaking during a recruitment exercise in Mombasa, Mutua said more than 4,000 job opportunities were available during the two-day drive, targeting sectors with high global demand.
Positions on offer include caregivers, nurses, truck drivers, construction workers and hospitality roles such as baristas. Officials said the programme is structured to eliminate middlemen fees, with no commission charged to applicants.
“Kenyans have people with no jobs. We have very qualified young people. Our job is not to give a handout but to give a hand up to these young people,” said CS Mutua.
The recruitment campaign is expected to expand to other counties as part of a broader national rollout.
The programme forms part of Kenya’s wider labour export strategy, which has gained traction as countries in Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia face labour shortages, particularly in healthcare, construction and domestic services.
Recent data from labour agencies indicates that remittances from Kenyans working abroad remain one of the country’s largest sources of foreign exchange, underscoring the economic significance of structured labour migration.
However, the sector has also been marred by persistent reports of worker exploitation, contract substitution and unsafe working conditions, particularly in some Gulf states, prompting calls for stricter regulation and bilateral labour agreements.
The ministry’s decision to briefly halt recruitment followed rising geopolitical tensions in parts of the Middle East, a key destination for Kenyan migrant workers.
Officials said the government continues to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety of citizens deployed abroad.
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Separately, Mutua condemned recent inter-community clashes that disrupted transport along the Mwingi–Garissa road, describing the violence in strong terms.
“It is unacceptable in this day and age for communities to attack other communities, for people to go and raid other communities, for people to go and rape the women of other communities,” he said.
He further warned against political incitement, stressing that leaders must not justify or inflame violence.
“It is also wrong for any leader to incite others or to try to justify any barbaric attack,” he stated.
Authorities say investigations into the incidents are ongoing, with security agencies deployed to restore calm in affected areas.
