Cyprian Nyakundi has exposed yet another scandal on his X page, this time shedding light on how Leking Recruitment Agency Limited is selling Kenyans into slavery with the full approval of the government.
The agency, which has been operating in Nairobi, has repeatedly been accused of luring desperate young women with promises of well-paying jobs in the Gulf, only for them to end up in abusive working conditions where they are treated like modern-day slaves.
One of the latest victims, Elizabeth Kalumu David from Kitui County, has gone missing under suspicious circumstances after being recruited by Leking Agency and sent to work in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Elizabeth was taken in by an employer identified as Read Mutlaq Omar Olotaibi, who allegedly subjected her to physical assault, starvation, and total isolation.
Her family says she worked for nine months without pay, her phone was seized, and she lost all contact with them in December 2024. More disturbingly, her employer is said to have issued direct threats against her life.
With no communication and no means of escape, Elizabeth’s fate remains unknown, leaving her family in agony as they plead with the Kenyan government to intervene and bring her back home.
Leking Agency is not just responsible for forced labour, it is also a well-known fraudster that preys on job seekers. Reports indicate that applicants are required to pay huge fees for job placements, yet those who fail to secure jobs are denied refunds.
The agency has turned desperation into a profitable business, trapping unsuspecting Kenyans in a cycle of exploitation while authorities turn a blind eye. The family of Elizabeth is now demanding urgent action from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Employment Authority (NEA), and the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh to locate and rescue her before it is too late
However, Elizabeth’s case is just one of many, and Kenyans are now questioning how a recruitment agency with a known history of human trafficking, fraud, and exploitation continues to operate legally.
Even more shocking is the fact that Leking Agency is not an underground operation it has been officially licensed by the Kenyan government. In January 2024, the National Employment Authority gave this agency clearance to send workers abroad, meaning the government either ignored the red flags or deliberately allowed the exploitation to continue.
Cyprian Nyakundi’s expose raises a critical issue, why does the government keep approving rogue agencies despite the increasing number of Kenyans suffering abroad? A simple online search would reveal hundreds of complaints from victims who have been scammed, abused, or trafficked through these agencies. Women have been returning home in body bags, while others arrive back with stories of rape, torture, and slavery.
Yet, instead of shutting down these agencies and holding those responsible accountable, the government continues to license them.The suffering of Kenyans under this system cannot be ignored any longer.
It is time to dismantle the network of exploitation that thrives under government approval and ensure that no more Kenyans are sold into slavery under the guise of foreign employment.
