Wamuzi News Ke
Kenya is on high alert as a disturbing employment scam targeting desperate job seekers explodes into the spotlight.
In a dramatic twist that’s left hundreds of hopeful youth reeling, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has ordered an immediate crackdown on criminal networks posing as agents of the government’s highly publicized Kazi Majuu program.
This comes just days after chaos erupted in Mombasa County during a government-sponsored overseas job recruitment drive. A rogue group reportedly infiltrated the event, shamelessly demanding bribes from young applicants in exchange for supposed “processing forms.”
“These crooks photocopied government-issued youth fund forms and were selling them for Sh50 a piece!” a visibly angered Mutua revealed during a heated address in Kwale County.
The CS didn’t mince words, calling the scheme a “blatant betrayal of the youth’s dreams” and vowing swift justice.
“Let me be clear: no one should pay even a single shilling to access this program. Anyone demanding money is committing a crime,” Mutua declared, issuing a stern warning to impostors preying on vulnerable Kenyans.
The Kazi Majuu program, hailed as a lifeline for Kenya’s unemployed youth, was designed to be free, fair, and transparent. But the recent revelations paint a grim picture of fraudsters exploiting a broken system and shattering the hopes of job-hungry citizens.
Even more damning: similar incidents have reportedly occurred in other counties, suggesting a well-coordinated operation that goes far beyond isolated scams.
According to Mutua, some of the scammers were found duplicating official documents and luring applicants into paying hidden charges under false pretenses—including medical exam fees and passport processing.
Now, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has been summoned to hunt down the culprits, as the Ministry of Labour urges all affected individuals to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or labor office.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare has opened a full-scale investigation after more than 300 Kenyans allegedly lost millions in a scandal involving NEA-registered recruitment firms.
In one alarming case, a December 2024 recruitment drive in Kabete saw job seekers pay up to Sh15,000 for medical tests, only to be hit with additional charges later—despite being promised free job placements in fields like carpentry, masonry, and driving.
To reassure victims and restore public trust, Mutua confirmed that the government would help applicants without passports and even cover initial expenses, to be repaid only after they secure employment abroad.
“This program is about empowering our youth, not bleeding them dry,” he emphasized.
As the nation grapples with this unfolding scandal, many are left asking: How deep does this rot go—and who is really behind it?
