Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has extended a public apology to Kenyan youth who have been defrauded by rogue job recruitment agencies.
Expressing his sympathy, Mutua acknowledged the significant financial losses suffered by victims of these scams. He assured the public that the government has taken decisive action by revoking the licenses of the fraudulent agencies involved.
The CS encouraged young people to explore legitimate employment opportunities facilitated by the government in regions such as the Middle East, Canada, Europe, and Australia. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safe and trustworthy avenues for job seekers.
Speaking on Monday, November 25, at the Rift Valley National Polytechnic in Nakuru during the ongoing national job recruitment exercise, Labour CS Alfred Mutua expressed regret over the financial and emotional hardships caused by job recruitment scams.
Government Measures to Curb Job Scams
Mutua assured Kenyans that the government is committed to eradicating such fraudulent schemes, emphasizing that the licenses of the involved agencies have already been revoked. He pledged that such incidents would no longer happen under the government’s watch, reinforcing its dedication to protecting job seekers from exploitation.
“I deeply regret the financial and emotional harm caused by these unscrupulous individuals and assure you that we are taking decisive action to eliminate such malpractices. We have already suspended or revoked the licenses of rogue agencies. There will be no room for conmanship in this sector,” Mutua said, assuring attendees that under his leadership, the government will ensure such malpractices are eradicated.
The government-driven recruitment program seeks to link 20,000 job seekers with employment opportunities in the Middle East, Europe, Canada, and Australia.
Addressing the youth, CS Alfred Mutua recognized the lingering skepticism stemming from past exploitative experiences. However, he urged them to stay optimistic and take advantage of the new, credible opportunities being provided through this initiative.
“You must eschew negativity and take the initiative to better your future. This government is fully in charge of this process to ensure it is transparent and beneficial,” he said.
Nakuru is the fourth county to host the exercise, following successful sessions in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui. The recruitment drive will proceed to Baringo on Tuesday and Nyandarua on Wednesday, November 27.
𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐀𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐔 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐉𝐎𝐁 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌
Today, at the Rift Valley National Polytechnic in Nakuru County during our ongoing national job… pic.twitter.com/HWOyBZHaJJ
— Dr. Alfred N. Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) November 25, 2024
In other news, Labour CS Alfred Mutua announced that new recruitment firms intending to operate in Kenya will be required to pay a registration fee of KSh 500,000. The certificates will be valid for one year, after which renewal will be mandatory. Existing agencies will pay a renewal fee of KSh 500,000 every two years, with the option to pay in yearly installments of KSh 250,000.