A dramatic wave of overseas job recruitment in Makueni, Machakos, and Kitui has forced Members of Parliament to summon Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua for urgent explanations.
The sudden dominance of just three counties in the national overseas recruitment drive is raising suspicion and calls for transparency from political leaders and public stakeholders alike.
Counties Take Lead in National Recruitment.
According to official figures, over 5,900 Kenyans secured overseas jobs during the initial recruitment phase launched in November 2024.
Among these, Nakuru led with 2,516 placements, followed by Nyandarua (925), Kitui (901), Machakos (752), Baringo (640), and Makueni (410) . The striking increase in job offers from the Ukambani counties—Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui—led by Mutua’s home county, triggered widespread scrutiny.
MPs Demand Accountability.
MPs representing various regions are alarmed by what they describe as an uneven distribution of recruitment efforts. They have called a special session in which CS Mutua must account for the selection process and explain why the Ukambani counties have disproportionally benefited from overseas job placement initiatives.
Pressure Mounts Amid Fraud Allegations.
This summons arrives amid growing controversy over the integrity of the programme, known as “Kazi Majuu.” Senators have previously questioned the ministry after hundreds of applicants from across the country claimed to have paid facilitation fees—ranging from Sh15,000 to Sh55,000—for overseas job placement, only to receive neither jobs nor refunds . Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale recently demanded that Mutua step aside pending the outcomes of investigations into these allegations .
Mutua Defends Programme.
CS Mutua has consistently maintained that the recruitment initiative targets all 47 counties in equal measure, with the goal of placing over 20,000 Kenyans abroad in the first phase . He insists the focus on Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui was due to the launch sequence and regional engagement with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and not favoritism .
Broader Concerns and Political Fallout• Transparency – MPs seek full disclosure of vetting criteria, county quotas, and agency involvement in job placements.• Fraud investigations – Senators are investigating agencies accused of exploiting gullible jobseekers, with some calls to wind down the National Employment Authority .• Public trust at risk – As the scandal unfolds, public confidence in government-led employment initiatives is eroding, with potential long-term effects on labour migration policies.
What Happens Next.
Labour CS Mutua is expected to appear before Parliament this week to answer MPs’ questions about county prioritization, recruitment agency conduct, and the alleged payment of facilitation fees. The committee may recommend reforms, disciplinary action, or further investigations depending on the findings.
The sudden surge of overseas job placements in the Ukambani region, set against a backdrop of fraud suspicions and inequitable county representation, has erupted into a national scandal.
As MPs summon CS Mutua to defend the recruitment drive, all eyes are on whether Kenya’s labour export strategy can be salvaged or faces a full political reckoning.
