The government has stepped in to rescue 20 Kenyans who were deceived by fake overseas job offers, raising fresh concern over the safety of youths seeking work abroad.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned that job scams are exposing young Kenyans to serious danger, including war zones and human trafficking.
Mudavadi made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at the burial of Mama Fanny Asigo Malova in Kipkaren, Kakamega County.
He said many young people leave the country believing they are going for genuine employment, only to realise later that they have been conned. According to him, some victims sign contracts without proper understanding and later find themselves in hostile environments far from home.
He explained that cases have been recorded where Kenyans ended up in active conflict areas such as Russia and Ukraine after being promised well-paying jobs.
Mudavadi said the government recently managed to rescue 20 Kenyans who were already trapped in such situations. He described the scams as well-organised and dangerous, noting that even educated and connected families have not been spared.
Mudavadi urged youths and their families to take verification seriously before any travel plans are made.
He advised anyone seeking work abroad to first confirm the opportunity through the Ministry of Labour, the National Employment Authority (NEA), and the Department of Diaspora Affairs.
He said these offices are in place to protect Kenyans and help them identify genuine job offers from fraudulent ones.
He also expressed concern that some young people leave the country without informing their families or authorities, making it harder for the government to track them when things go wrong.
Mudavadi noted that lives have already been lost, others have been injured, and the government is struggling to bring some victims back home.
He added that relatives of senior public officials have also fallen victim, showing that no one is immune to the scams.
The warning comes at a time when reports have emerged linking Kenyans to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. On Friday, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence agency claimed that three Kenyans allegedly recruited to fight for Russia 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.
These reports have caused shock and renewed debate on how Kenyans are being recruited and transported abroad.
The situation has placed Kenya’s labour mobility programme under close scrutiny. Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has previously defended the programme, saying that many Kenyans who travel abroad do secure legitimate jobs and improve their livelihoods.
However, he has also admitted that gaps in verification have allowed fraudsters to take advantage of desperate job seekers.
Mutua has urged families and job seekers to always confirm job offers through NEA, which regulates recruitment agencies and keeps a list of licensed firms.
He warned that scammers often use visitor visas and false promises to trap victims, leaving them vulnerable once they arrive in foreign countries.
Mudavadi added that the government is working on bilateral labour agreements with other countries to ensure safer and more organised pathways for Kenyans seeking jobs abroad.
He said the goal is to protect citizens while still allowing them to access genuine opportunities. He stressed that caution, verification, and patience are key to avoiding tragedy.
