Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has dismissed reports that Kenyan youth recruited under the Kazi Majuu program at the Coast are stranded and unable to travel abroad. Speaking in Machakos on Wednesday, Mutua said the claims were misleading and did not reflect the program’s progress.
According to the CS, the government shortlisted and fully funded 500 beneficiaries. Of these, 300 have travelled while 121 are yet to travel. He said another 84 applicants, who were already in possession of their visas, are expected to leave the country anytime soon.
Mutua, however, revealed that a significant number of applicants are failing mandatory medical checks, especially drug tests, which blocks them from securing visas.
“Some of these people who are claiming they have not travelled, they were conned, also need to go and do personal medical check-ups,” he stated.
The CS also raised the alarm over dishonest recruitment agencies taking advantage of desperate job seekers. He disclosed that the government deregistered 600 rogue agencies over the past year after receiving numerous complaints. One of the companies, accused of collecting money from unsuspecting Kenyans, has already been summoned by the DCI to record a statement.
“There are others who have been misbehaving, and we are making sure that we de-register them. Every year, there is a number we are not renewing their licenses, and the number is increasing, and people are starting to shape up,” Mutua said.
He called on Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad to ensure that their health records are clean to avoid being locked out by failed drug tests.
Looking ahead, Dr. Mutua said he was confident that the government would scale up overseas job placements. He projected that by 2026, more than 200 Kenyans will secure work abroad annually through structured government programs.
“Next year we align ourselves properly, we will get many Kenyans to travel overseas and get them a good life,” he noted.
The Kazi Majuu initiative has supported at least 490 Kenyans in accessing foreign employment since its launch, but the program remains under scrutiny after the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare launched an investigation in April following reports that some recruitment agencies are defrauding job seekers of millions.
However, the Government has persisted in sending Kenyan youths to countries including Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and other destinations as part of efforts to address youth unemployment under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
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